Romans and reivers

A house built on the site of a Roman fort evokes two periods of the distant past. John Martin Robinson reports on the recent revival of the building, including the award-winning restoration of its stables

- John Martin Robinson

Netherby Hall, Cumbria

The home of Gerald and Margo Smith

NETHERBY looks like a Scottish house, which is no coincidence. It is situated in the Solway Mosses, the 'Debateable Lands', between the kingdoms of Scotland and England. The division between the two a line between the Rivers Sark and Eskwas only decided as late as 1552, when it was defined by the construction of 'Scots Dyke' and Netherby was left in Elizabethan England. The present house was created by the Grahme or Graham family, who lived here for more than 400 years. They were descended from the Grahams of Plomp in Cumberland and owed their rise to prosperity to the Stuarts, by whom they were granted a baronetcy.

The family supported the Royalist cause in the Civil War and Richard Graham (1648-95), 3rd Baronet, was additionally created Viscount Preston and Lord Graham of Esk in the Peerage of Scotland by James II in 1681. He served as Chancellor to Queen Catharine of Braganza and Secretary of State in 1688, the latter appointment being cut short by the Glorious Revolution of the same year. He was also given an English peerage, that of Viscount Preston, by Letters Patent at St Germain-enLaye, following the flight of the King. The letters were issued before the Vote of Abdication was passed by Parliament invalidating the King's actions, but the peerage was subsequently declared void by the House of Lords.