Rokeby Park
Encyclopedia
Rokeby Park is a country house in the Palladian style in Northern England
. It is located close to the confluence of the River Tees
and River Greta, close to Greta Bridge
in what is now County Durham
. It was historically located in the North Riding of Yorkshire
. Locally, Rokeby is pronounced "rookbee".
It is the private home of Sir Andrew Morritt
but is open to the public on Monday and Tuesday afternoons between May Bank Holiday and August Bank Holiday.
The house is well known as the original English home of the painting The Toilet of Venus by Diego Velázquez
, now known in English as The Rokeby Venus. The original now hangs in the National Gallery, London
and a copy hangs in the saloon at Rokeby Park. Sir Walter Scott
was a regular visitor to the house, and used it as the setting to his epic poem "Rokeby" in 1812.
The building is also of interest in its own right. Completed in 1735 (and known at the time as Rokeby Hall) by Sir Thomas Robinson
, it is considered a fine example of the italianate Palladian style. Robinson owned it until 1769, when he sold it to J.S. Morritt, an ancestor of the current owner.
Much of the present interior was designed by John Carr. The house contains the collection of fine needlework pictures by Anne Morritt (1726–1797), the spinster sister of J.S. Morritt. There is also a rare surviving "print room", a room wallpapered with 18th century prints.
Northern England
Northern England, also known as the North of England, the North or the North Country, is a cultural region of England. It is not an official government region, but rather an informal amalgamation of counties. The southern extent of the region is roughly the River Trent, while the North is bordered...
. It is located close to the confluence of the River Tees
River Tees
The River Tees is in Northern England. It rises on the eastern slope of Cross Fell in the North Pennines, and flows eastwards for 85 miles to reach the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar.-Geography:...
and River Greta, close to Greta Bridge
Greta Bridge
Greta Bridge is a village on the River Greta in County Durham, England.-Geography and administration:Greta Bridge lies in the Pennine hills near to Barnard Castle...
in what is now County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. It was historically located in the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
. Locally, Rokeby is pronounced "rookbee".
It is the private home of Sir Andrew Morritt
Andrew Morritt
Sir Robert Andrew Morritt CVO is a British judge, currently the Chancellor of the High Court.He attended Magdalene College, Cambridge....
but is open to the public on Monday and Tuesday afternoons between May Bank Holiday and August Bank Holiday.
The house is well known as the original English home of the painting The Toilet of Venus by Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
, now known in English as The Rokeby Venus. The original now hangs in the National Gallery, London
National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media...
and a copy hangs in the saloon at Rokeby Park. Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
was a regular visitor to the house, and used it as the setting to his epic poem "Rokeby" in 1812.
The building is also of interest in its own right. Completed in 1735 (and known at the time as Rokeby Hall) by Sir Thomas Robinson
Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet was an English architect and collector.Thomas left his brother William his title but not his estates, and his brother Richard his books, including those on architecture and antiquities. On 2 March 1730, he was created a Baronet, of Rokeby, in the County of...
, it is considered a fine example of the italianate Palladian style. Robinson owned it until 1769, when he sold it to J.S. Morritt, an ancestor of the current owner.
Much of the present interior was designed by John Carr. The house contains the collection of fine needlework pictures by Anne Morritt (1726–1797), the spinster sister of J.S. Morritt. There is also a rare surviving "print room", a room wallpapered with 18th century prints.