Bessie Surtees House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bessie Surtees House |
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| General information | |
| Location | Tyne and Wear, England |
| Address | Bessie Surtees House, 41–44 Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 3JF |
| Coordinates | 54°58′07″N 1°36′30″W / 54.9686°N 1.6084°W |
| OS grid | NZ249637 |
| Owner | Historic England |
Bessie Surtees House is actually the name for two very old houses in Newcastle upon Tyne. They are located on Sandhill, close to the River Tyne. These houses were built a long time ago, in the 1500s and 1600s.
Even though people often call the whole place Bessie Surtees House, it's really three different buildings. These are Bessie Surtees House, Milbank House, and Maddison House. A past owner, Lord Gort, gave them these names in the 1900s.
The buildings are a great example of Jacobean architecture. This is a special style of building from the time of King James I. You can find an exhibition about the history of these buildings on the first floor. The site is also home to the local office for Historic England. This is an organization that helps protect old buildings. Bessie Surtees House is a Grade I listed building. This means it is very important and protected.
The first record of a house on this spot is from 1465. Back then, a local lawyer named Robert Rhodes sold the house to John Belt.
The Story of Bessie Surtees House
This house is famous for a romantic story. It's where Bessie Surtees and John Scott ran away together. John Scott later became a very important judge called the Lord Chancellor.
Over time, the house was split into smaller parts. Different people rented these parts in the 1700s and 1800s. In 1880, John Clayton bought the house. He also bought Milbank House next door.
The house was fixed up in 1930 by SR Vereker, who later became Lord Gort. He hired an engineer to add old parts from other buildings that were being torn down. Newcastle City Council bought the house in 1978. They then leased it to English Heritage in 1989.
In 2009, the roof of the house was damaged by graffiti. This was cleaned up.
When Historic England was created in 2015, they took over the lease. They still use the house as their office for the North East of England. The house is a popular place to visit during special events. These events are called The Late Shows and Heritage Open Days. They happen every year. During these times, people can see parts of the house that are usually closed to the public.
Milbank House: A Neighboring Gem
Milbank House has a front made of bricks. It was built around the same time as Bessie Surtees House. It also started as a timber-framed building.
In 1741, the owner, Robert Carrick, changed its front. He made it look modern for that time, using Georgian bricks. From 1741 to 1757, Milbank House was used as a coffee shop.
