GLAMIS CASTLE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1929, Page 12

GLAMIS CASTLE

WITH DUCHESS IN THE HIGHLANDS EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS’ HISTORY (By Thomas G. Middleton.) Glamis —and the Duchess of York; What is contained in those six words could take a book to fill. For it means that the “commoner” who became a British Royal Princess and very near even to the throne itself by her marriage, is still “as she ■was” when she goes “home” to the Highlands of her birthplace—the historic and almost unique old castle of Glamis in Forfarshire. All the lowly and honest Scots folk of Glamis Glen, one of the most delightful and peaceful spots in all the -world, where rugged and beautiful mingle in a kaleidoscope of natural charm rarely to be found—make no fuss when the Duchess with her Royal husband and Royal baby arrive among them. “She belongs,” they -will tell' you, and they will add severely, “She comes here among her own people for rest and quiet, and we are here to see that she gets it.” And they do. EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS OLD. Until you see Glamis Castle you can never imagine what it is like. It is 800 years old to begin -with, and .there are few such places left in the land. Turrets and towers; solid stone buttresses; doors that , would be considered unnecsarily strong even for a prison for the worst and most violent criminals; mullioned windows; curious circular window's; arrow'-slit windows and huge door-windows. And above all an atmosphere of quiet, strength and security that ft something entirely different from any other. place I have ever been to—and I have travelled far and in many lands.

Wheg you enter Glamis Gian you feel at once as though you had stepped farback into the ages. The castle dominates the glen, and yet somehow the glen seems to dominate the castle —it all depends from the angle of view. There is an old-time emotional song that speaks of the “silence and stillness” of the ocean-bed. It is that “silence and stillness” and soothing yet impressive atmosphere that rules and envelopes Glamis, Yet with all there is also charm. UNALTERED THROUGH CENTURIES Entrance to the castle is obtained through a small doorway of iron-stud-ed oak, that has remained unaltered for eight centuries. Inside • there is stone and tapestry. and tapestry and stone. Long stone corridors; even stairways of stone, blackened with age is all the wonderful oak woodwork. The tapestries that hang on the walls in most of the rooms, and arc the only coverings of the stone walls, are worth a fortune -were they for sale. Huge rooms; lofty crypts and small rooms all alike are impressive. Since her marriage the daughter of this ancient castle has been allotted with her husband a special suite of three rooms —a large but peaceful and attractive living-room, known for ages as “The Tapestry Room,” because of its wonderful wail coverings, the Duchess’ own simple bedroom and the Duke’s still simpler and smaller sleeping apartments. Could you enter these rooms you would be amazed at their utter simplicity. Take the living room. With the exception of one small recess the walls are completely covered with beautiful aid tapestries. On the one bleak in the wall is a simple picture —a portrait in water-colour of the Duchess’ sister. Beneath this portrait is a businesslike desk, and near at hand a set of book-shelves. A few cosy chairs; a wonderfully carved oak cupboard and a piano and overmantel complete the furnishings. It is here that the Duke and Duchess spend their homely hours together, and where they can retire to that peace they yearn for, sure that they are free from all possible interruption or official worries.