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to the prevalent taste in architecture, had assumed an
appearance incongruous with its original castellated style.
The castle presents a fine mass of towers built on the north
side of the vale, surrounded by hanging gardens that rise,
terrace above terrace, up to the level lawn on which it
stands. The keep, or Strickland's Tower, is a little
detached, and partially covered with ivy. The entrance-hall
between Bell's Tower, almost concealed by creepers, and
Percy's Tower, which is quite modern, contains the grand
staircase of carved English oak, the bannisters ornamented
with roses and shields alternately, leading to the chapel
and drawing-room. The chapel is lighted by a row of windows
on its south front, and is most chastely fitted up with
oaken stalls and wainscotting. The reading-desk and pulpit
are of the same substantial materials; and across the west
end extends a series of beautiful niches with elegant
canopies, under one of which is the bishop's seat. The
dining-room and library are on the ground floor; the latter
is a fine apartment, elegantly and simply fitted up with
oaken cases. The fire-places throughout are all of chiselled
stone, richer or simpler in their designs according to the
uses of the apartment. The new portions were designed by Mr.
Rickman, under the immediate superintendence of the Right
Reverend Bishop, to whose intimate acquaintance with
architecture is owing the absence of every thing that could
offend the most correct and fastidious taste. The square
embattled towers rise magnifi-
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