RELIC OF THE TUDORS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1930, Page 8

RELIC OF THE TUDORS

" FIRE AT COWES CASTLE Cowes nearly lost its most famous landmark, the scene of its brilliant society gathering in England’s regatta week, when the Royal Yacht Squadron Castle was damaged by fire on Decenv her 2. Several priceless pictures were destroyed. Others were severely damaged. The outbreak was discovered in the early hours by the head housemaid, Miss Annie Morgan, who aroused the other six members of the household staff. There were two visitors—Colonel A. M. B. Gage, a member, who had been staying as guest with Captain Mac Caw. Dense smoke and intense heat in the corridors of the older portion of the building made the firemen’s task a difficult one, and it was some time before the seat of the fire was traced to the cellar. The flames reached the dining room above. This is a very elegant apartment. Although the fire was confined to one corner, the terrific heat was sufficient to affect all the treasured pictures hanging on the walls. Commendable efforts in the blinding smoke and great heat were made to save some of them, but several were destroyed, including portraits in oils of King George—by Sir Arthur Cope—the late Earl of Yarborough, the Earl of Wilton, and the Duke of Leeds, former commodores. Among the pictures which were severely damaged were paintsings of King Edward, the Marquess of Ormon, the Marquess of Donegal, and the large oil painting of the Falcon and other yachts, by Higgins, which was presented by the Earl of Yarborough, first commodore, in 1851. The Cowes Fire Brigade checked, the spread of the fire, which was confined to the dining room and the bedroom above. The. fabric of the stone building was practically undamaged. Colonel Gage, owner of the schooner Amphitrie, gave valuable service in helping to extinguish the outbreak. The Daily Telegraph yachting correspondent writes: — The castle at West Cowes, which is now the property of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who purchased it frbm the Crown in 19.17, is a most picturesque building. The rooms are not large, but many arc charming and old-fash-ioned. The earlier parts of the castle were built in the reign of Henry VIII, when the stone bastions formed a fort for the protection of the Madina River. I The last governor of the fortress was the first Marquess of Anglesey, who, as Earl of Uxbridge, led the cavalry at Waterloo. The club itself was founded in Waterloo year at a meeting at the Thatched House Tavern, in St. .Tame’s street, Lord Uxbridge, who lost a leg in the battle, being one of the principal founders. , ; The squadron was first established ] at a house at East Cowes, and after- i wards, until the year 1856, at the ' house which is now the Gloster Hotel, t West Cowes. The Marquess Conyng- | ham took a lease of the castle from ; the Crown, and transferred it to the } Royal Yacht Squadron in 1856, when 5 the club reconstructed and enlarged the building. It was not until 1917, however ,that the members purchased < the freehold. I f