Rock Hall, Northumberland facts for kids
Rock Hall is a privately owned country house in Rock, near Alnwick, Northumberland, England. This historic building dates back to the 1700s. It is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important and protected piece of history.
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A Look Back in Time
The land where Rock Hall stands has a long history. Over many centuries, different families owned the area known as the Manor of Rock. These included the Rock, Swinhoe, Lawson, Salkeld, Proctor, and Holford families. In 1796, Charlotte Holford, who inherited the Rock estate, married Charles Bosanquet. This marriage brought the estate into the Bosanquet family.
How Rock Hall Changed Over Years
There has been a house on this estate since the 1300s. In the 1400s, the south part of the house was changed into a tower house. Later, in the 1600s, the Salkeld family updated the entire building.
A big fire badly damaged Rock Hall in 1752. But around 1820, Charles Bosanquet had the house restored. He was a very important person in Northumberland at the time. The famous architect John Dobson designed a new and unique south side for the house. It featured two semi-round sections. In the mid-1800s, another architect named F.R. Wilson added a new wing to the northwest side.
Famous People from Rock Hall
Several notable members of the Bosanquet family were born or lived at Rock Hall. These include:
- Robert Bosanquet, a scientist.
- Admiral Sir Day Bosanquet, a high-ranking naval officer.
- Bernard Bosanquet, a well-known philosopher.
- Professor Robert Carr Bosanquet, an archaeologist who studied ancient history.
In 1881, the estate was quite large, covering about 1,130 acres (or 4.57 square kilometers). It was a busy place, with 44 people working on the land and 11 people working inside the house.
Rock Hall's Later Life
From 1929 to 1939, a woman named Helen Christian Sutherland leased Rock Hall. She was a special person who supported artists and writers. She was friends with many famous people, including David Jones and Ben Nicholson. Her art collection was displayed in the house, and her friends often visited. Even members of the Ashington Group, a group of coal miners who became artists, came to Rock Hall.
After the mid-1900s, Rock Hall was rented out for different uses. For a while, it was a Youth Hostel, a place where young travelers could stay. More recently, it was used as a Preparatory School for younger students. Today, Rock Hall is once again a private family home.
