Belsay Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Belsay Hall |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | Country house |
| Location | Belsay |
| OS grid reference | NZ087783 |
| Area | Northumberland |
| Built | 1810-1817 |
| Architect | Sir Charles Monck |
| Architectural style(s) | Greek Revival |
| Owner | English Heritage |
|
Listed Building – Grade I
|
|
| Official name: Belsay Hall | |
| Designated | 27 Aug 1952 |
| Reference no. | 1304489 |
| Official name: Belsay Hall | |
| Designated | 1 January 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1001042 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Belsay Hall is a beautiful country house in Belsay, Northumberland, England. It was built in a special style called Regency style, which was popular a long time ago. What makes Belsay Hall extra cool is that it was the very first country house in Britain built completely in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks a lot like ancient Greek temples! It's also a very important old building, known as a Grade I listed building. Belsay Hall was built to replace an older home, Belsay Castle, which is just a short walk away on the same large estate.
A Look Back in Time
Belsay Hall was built between 1810 and 1817. It was designed by Sir Charles Monck himself! He lived in Belsay Castle nearby at the time. An architect named John Dobson might have helped him with the plans.
The house is made from a type of cut stone called ashlar and has a roof made of Lakeland slate. It follows the Greek Doric style, which is a classic ancient Greek design. Sir Charles Monck got his ideas from buildings he saw during his two-year honeymoon in Greece. He was especially inspired by the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens.
The main part of the house is about 100 feet (30 meters) square. There's also a smaller kitchen area attached to the north side. From the outside, the house looks like it has two floors. However, there's a secret extra floor hidden in the roof space. This floor was used for the servants who worked in the house.
In the 1970s, the part of the house where the servants lived had some problems with wood decay. After repairs, this area was left as a weatherproof shell. This helps visitors see how the house was built and how it looked inside. The Middleton family lived in Belsay Hall until 1962.
Belsay Hall Today
Today, Belsay Hall is kept unfurnished. This means there isn't any furniture inside. It's maintained in a way that shows its age, but it's still safe. Only important repairs are done to keep the building strong. This unique approach allows the hall to be used for special art shows each summer. Artists create unique installations that fit the empty spaces.
The estate also has amazing gardens. Some are formal, with neat designs, while others are more natural. A very special part is the linear Quarry Garden. This garden is built in an old stone quarry. You can get around easily in the Quarry Garden, and on the ground floor of both the Hall and the Castle, if you use a wheelchair. There's also a café where you can get a snack.
The gardens at Belsay Hall are also very important. They are listed as Grade I on the Historic England Park and Garden Register. This means they are protected and recognized for their historical value.
English Heritage looks after Belsay Hall. It is open to the public, so you can visit and explore it yourself! In 2023, English Heritage finished a big two-year project. They put a new roof on the hall and did a lot of work to improve the gardens.
