Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for RABY-WITH- KEVERSTONE

RABY-WITH- KEVERSTONE, a township in Stain-drop parish, Durham; 6 miles N E of Barnard-Castle. Acres, 2, 752. Real property, £2, 768. Pop., 295. Houses, 57. Raby Castle stands on a rocky eminence, commanding good views from its towers; occupies the site of a palace of Canute; was founded in 1379 by Johnde Neville; underwent, at various periods, great additions and alterations; passed, in the time of James I., to Sir H. Vane; gave entertainment, in 1633 and 1639, to Charles I.; was taken in 1645, and besieged in 1648; belongs now to the Duke of Cleveland, and gives him the title of Baron Raby; was described by Leland as the "largest castle of logginges in all the north country; " covers aspace of about 2 acres, with a moat; includes two courts, a great machicolated gate, covered galleries, and several towers; contains a barons' hall, 90 feet long, 35 feet wide, and 36 feet high; and stands in a noble park. A gathering of 700 knights took place in the hall in the time of the Nevilles; and is thus sung by Wordsworth

Neville sees
His followers gathering in from Tees,
From Were, and all the little rills
Conceal'd among the forked hills
Seven hundred knights, retainers all
Of Neville, at their master's call
Had sate together in Raby's Hall."


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a township"   (ADL Feature Type: "countries, 4th order divisions")
Administrative units: County Durham AncC
Place: Raby

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