No.2 Bailiffgate (Alnwick)
No.2 Bailiffgate, Alnwick. Photo Northumberland County Council, 1970.
No 2 BAILIFFGATE (North Side)
Grade II*
The Duchess's Girls School, formerly Derwentwater House. Reputedly built in 1791. Three storeys and basement. Five windows. Plain ashlar, ground floor plat band, cornice and parapet. Glazing bar sash windows. Central doorway with side lights below a relieving arch. Six panel door - top two raised and fielded; patterned rectangular light above; brackets to lintel. Curved doorstep. Closed area. East elevation three bays with plat band and cornice returned; central bay breaks forward and has a pediment within the parapet. Rear: three bays. Tripartite windows with relieving arches first and ground floors. Venetian windows with pointed glazing in centre light to centre of first and second floors. Interior: fine carved Adam style chimney pieces. (1)
Bailiffgate House was built by the Duke of Northumberland for his commissioner James Dormer in 1797. It was designed by architect Vincent Shepperd. A rainwater head of 1797 on the building indicates the construction date and a late 18th/early 19th painting of Alnwick Castle from the river depicts the new Bailiffgate House prominent in the view adjacent to the castle (Alnwick Castle Archives: 04535). The house replaced an earlier building called Derwentwater House. Dormer was dismissed from the Duke's service in 1805 and the house was turned over to his successor Sir David W Smith, who remained in residence until his death in 1837 (Alnwick Castle Archives: DNP: MS 69A/6). The house continued in use as a residence for the estate commissioners until the death of the third Duke in 1852. The house was then leased as a dwelling with stable and gardens until the Duchess School took over the property in 1888. The school was used as the 8th Northumberland Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital between January 1915 and June 1916. The school closed in July 2016 and moved to new premises. (2)
(NU 18571369 - OS 1:2500 1972) (3a)
Grade II*
The Duchess's Girls School, formerly Derwentwater House. Reputedly built in 1791. Three storeys and basement. Five windows. Plain ashlar, ground floor plat band, cornice and parapet. Glazing bar sash windows. Central doorway with side lights below a relieving arch. Six panel door - top two raised and fielded; patterned rectangular light above; brackets to lintel. Curved doorstep. Closed area. East elevation three bays with plat band and cornice returned; central bay breaks forward and has a pediment within the parapet. Rear: three bays. Tripartite windows with relieving arches first and ground floors. Venetian windows with pointed glazing in centre light to centre of first and second floors. Interior: fine carved Adam style chimney pieces. (1)
Bailiffgate House was built by the Duke of Northumberland for his commissioner James Dormer in 1797. It was designed by architect Vincent Shepperd. A rainwater head of 1797 on the building indicates the construction date and a late 18th/early 19th painting of Alnwick Castle from the river depicts the new Bailiffgate House prominent in the view adjacent to the castle (Alnwick Castle Archives: 04535). The house replaced an earlier building called Derwentwater House. Dormer was dismissed from the Duke's service in 1805 and the house was turned over to his successor Sir David W Smith, who remained in residence until his death in 1837 (Alnwick Castle Archives: DNP: MS 69A/6). The house continued in use as a residence for the estate commissioners until the death of the third Duke in 1852. The house was then leased as a dwelling with stable and gardens until the Duchess School took over the property in 1888. The school was used as the 8th Northumberland Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital between January 1915 and June 1916. The school closed in July 2016 and moved to new premises. (2)
(NU 18571369 - OS 1:2500 1972) (3a)
N4519
BUILDING SURVEY, Duchess School, Alnwick 2019; Archaeological Services Durham University
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Duchess School, Alnwick 2019; Archaeological Services Durham University
BUILDING SURVEY, Bailiffgate ; Mawson Kerr
DESK BASED ASSESSMENT, Duchess School, Alnwick 2019; Archaeological Services Durham University
BUILDING SURVEY, Bailiffgate ; Mawson Kerr
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Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.