Camerton Hall - Orchestration of Arrival
Shaun Castle 30 May 2006
The approach to the hall can be seen as a prolonged introduction to the pleasures of the landscape. This of course is a recurrent theme in the development of the country house and its park. The drive allows a discursive, ruminative journey across the contours of the former estate: after leaving St Peter’s Church the track follows the curvature of the River Derwent to the west affording long range views of the southern elevations of the hall. These are abruptly denied as the drive bends to the north over the former Cockermouth & Workington railway escarpment towards the skyline before once again changing tack in joining the chase which now delivers an axial tree lined approach to the house and it’s entrance Portico. The visitor now enters the enclosure of the hall. In this space he is disconnected from the landscape prior to the denouement - the final revelation. This is the pastoral view to the south along the water-course of the Derwent towards the horizon. This view around the hall is organised as hidden from the visitor until he has arrived and been favoured with entry. In this way the hall acts as a camera - a view finder carefully set up to please occupants and visitors alike.
- Thematic Traditions in the Country House Links to this post
