Raby Castle

Over het museum

Most of Raby Castle was built in the 14th century by the powerful Neville family. In 1378 the Bishop of Durham gave John, 3rd Baron Neville, permission to fortify the house, and the castle took roughly the form it has today. The Nevilles held vast lands in the north, but they lost everything in 1569, when Charles Neville joined the Rising of the North, an attempt to replace Elizabeth I with Mary, Queen of Scots, and the estates were seized by the Crown.

In 1626 Raby was bought by Henry Vane the Elder, and the Vane family still own it. During the Civil War the castle was twice besieged by Royalists, without success. In the 18th century a family quarrel nearly ruined the estate when Lord Barnard and his wife stripped the castle and woods to punish their son for marrying against their wishes. Repairs and landscaping followed after he inherited in 1723, and in the 19th century Raby became a lavish country house where the Dukes of Cleveland entertained guests.

The 12th Lord Barnard and his wife inherited the estate in 2016 and began a programme of renewal. Today visitors can tour the castle's rooms and collections, including family portraits in the Barons' Hall, and explore a 200-acre deer park, a remodelled walled garden and the Plotters' Forest adventure playground.

Hoogtepunten

• Barons' Hall with its collection of family portraits
• 14th-century Neville castle largely intact
• 200-acre deer park with red and fallow deer
• Remodelled walled gardens designed by Luciano Giubbilei
• The Plotters' Forest adventure playground

Vaste collectie

• Raby Castle state rooms and collections – Rooms including the Barons' Hall, with portraits of the Vane family by artists such as Reynolds and Lely, and collections of paintings, sculpture, porcelain and furniture assembled over four centuries.
• Raby Exhibition, Coach House – An exhibition about the castle and the estate in the Coach House, free to enter.

Opgericht

1378

Beheerder

Raby Estates

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The prices shown are the online pre-booked prices for the castle, deer park and gardens; on site an adult ticket costs £24, a concession £23 and a child £13. Pre-booking is recommended because availability on site is not guaranteed. Historic Houses members and Raby members enter the castle free. Blue light and forces card holders get 10% off tickets bought on site, and visitors arriving by bus get 10% off admission. Parking is free. Card payment only.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Access inside the castle is limited because of its age: only parts of the ground floor are reachable by wheelchair, there are sets of three and four steps on that floor and 41 steps to the upper floors. A touch screen in the Entrance Hall and an introductory video in the Housekeeper's Sitting Room are provided for visitors who cannot take the full tour. The castle is about 350 metres on foot from the main entrance up an incline. Blue Badge bays are in the visitor car park. Accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility are at the Vinery Café, the Plotters' Forest and near the Riding School. The Vinery and the Coach House are fully accessible. A 3D virtual tour of the accessible routes is available online. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot be hired. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

The Plotters' Forest adventure playground (weekends and holiday periods, pre-booked tickets) has an accessible boardwalk, and a Hidden Forest area has been added. There are free children's trails in the castle and the playground, and the walled garden has mazes. The Family Explorer ticket bundles all attractions. Pushchairs are left in the castle's Entrance Hall. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Raby Castle is on the A688, 1 mile north-east of Staindrop and 8 miles north-east of Barnard Castle. Darlington station is about 15 miles away. The castle is about 350 metres on foot from the main entrance.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel

The Vinery Café, the Garage Café and Plotters' Pantry serve food and drinks, including gluten-free and vegan options. The Coach House has a shop and an exhibition, and there is a picnic area near the Plotters' Forest. There are no cash machines on site.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen

Spaces include the Riding School (500 sq m), the Dutch Barn, the Vinery (over 200 diners), an amphitheatre for up to 500 people, the castle and the deer park, for conferences, team building and product launches.

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