Ryelands House, Ryelands Park, Lancaster, Lancashire.
Ryelands:
Ryelands is the home where Gwendolen and Grandcourt spend some of their time once they are married in Daniel Deronda. Mr. Gascoigne describes, "But Ryelands I know to be one of our finest seats. The park is extensive and the woods of a very valuable order. The house was built by Inigo Jones, and the ceilings are painted in the Italian style. The estate is said to be worth twelve thousand a year, and there are two livings, one a rectory, in the gift of the Grandcourts" (276). I felt this particular place is significant to our understanding of Eliot's novel for several reasons, particularily due to the dynamic between Gwendolen and Grandcourt and how we understand them as characters. The relationship of these two characters is central to the story. One example of an important event that occurs at Ryelands is when Gwendolen receives the diamonds from Lydia. Eliot writes, "Within all the sealed paper coverings was a box, but within the box there was a jewel-case; and now she felt no doubt that she had the diamonds. But on opening the case, in the same instant that she saw them gleam she saw a letter lying above them. . .It was as if an adder had lain on them. Her heart gave a leap which seemed to have spent all her strength; and as she opened the bit of thin paper, it shook with the trembling of her hands. But it was legible as print, and thrust its words upon her" (321-22).
Ryelands House is located in Lancashire, England. During the 19th century, Lacanshire was a hive for industrialization and technology. The Lancanshire Census describes the county saying it "completely dominated the world market in textiles, employing around 5% of the English populace. This was a phenomenal accomplishment, and the county was hailed a model of industrialisation" (Facts). Ryelands House itself "was purchased by James Williamson (who became Lord Ashton in 1895), who employed Paley and Austin to make various improvements to the estate, including an extension to Ryelands House made in 1883, for which drawings survive" ("RYELANDS HOUSE"). This helped make the area a "historic interest" building as well ("RYELANDS HOUSE").
Works Cited:
Eliot, George. Daniel Deronda. Penguin, 2012.
“Facts: Lancashire Census.” Facts | Lancashire Census, Genealogy Supplies, 2021, lancashirecensus.co.uk/facts/. Accessed 26 April 2021.
“RYELANDS HOUSE, Lancaster - 1212160: Historic England.” Historic England, Historic England, 1970, historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1212160#:~:text=HISTORY%3A%20built%20for%20Mr%20Jonathan,1883%2C%20for%20which%20drawings%20survive. Accessed 26 April 2021.
Image Citation:
Antiquary. “Ryelands House.” Wikimedia Commons , Wikimedia, 15 Sept. 2014, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ryelands_House.JPG. Accessed 26 April 2021.