This is an Oil painting of Gibside Hall by myself. It’s from a photograph I took way back in the 1970s when the Hall still had trees growing inside it. Not many people visited back then. It was a quiet magical place. I had to ask the gate keeper to let me through to see the hall. He always warned, don’t go inside because it’s dangerous now. But being a child I often did, to see the trees and imagine the hall intact with its ladies in waiting and wonderful interior. My father can remember the hall intact. He used to be chased away by the warden Mr Cheeseman. Dad can remember hearing that some of its fine furniture would go missing now and then. Stolen in other words. He can remember huge draft horses pulling massive logs out of Gibsides forest and how they were cruelly whipped to make them pull harder. Dad was born in Cowen Terrace and my family including me lived in Cowen Terrace from the late 1800s early 1900s until around 1997. The Cowing’s in Cowen Terrace. I can’t tell you how much Rowlands Gill means to me. It’s where I truly belong. The Hall is said to have a ghost who only shows herself to men. The Grey Lady is still searching for her husband. Once owned by the Earls of Strathmore it’s furnishings are now in Glamis Castle. Mother of our current Queen Elizabeth once visited her family home, the old Hall and it’s once majestic grounds were famous for it orchids and dragon flies and old beech trees. There is a mile long tree lined grass lane between the hall and Chapel, known as the race course. It might have once been used by visiting gentry to place their bets. It is famous for its last rich Lord who spent most of his money gambling and almost bankrupt the Estate. This is where the saying ‘Stoney Broke, came from. Lord Stoney eventually was divorced by the lady of the hall and he died penniless broken body and soul in a workhouse in London.

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