Hesleyside Hall (Bellingham)
Hesleyside Hall. Photo Northumberland County Council, 1957.
(NY 81618372) The house and tower at Hesleyside is mentioned in 1537. The tower stood to the west of the present mansion and was pulled down in the early 19th century.
In 1541 the tower is mentioned as being in the inheritance of '.... Charleton sonne to Edward Charleton deceased'. To the east side of the tower was added a 17th century wing believed to have been built in 1631. In 1719 this wing was reconstructed but the core of the earlier building took place in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
The present building is quadrangular with work of 1719 on the south side. (Architectural description). (1)
The oldest portion of the present house is the south front which is Queen Anne (probably the 1719 rebuilding referred to by Authority (1), the remainder has been constructed and reconstructed from the 18th to 20th centuries inclusive.
'A' NY 81588371. The Pele tower was situated slightly to the west of the house (now an ornamental garden) it was taken down in the 19th century and the material used to construct a stable, the stable itself has now been demolished and the material spread. Deeds of property mention the Pele, its site, and demolition. (2)
Hesleyside Hall, Grade II*. Country House. 1719; east front by William Newton 1796. Earlier core; alterations mid-19th century. Ashlar with Lakeland slate roofs. Courtyard house. Three storeys. South front 1719. Good interior includes hall with imperial staircase with elaborate cast-iron balusters; Adam-style plaster ceiling and Ionic columns and pilasters - by Ignatius Bonomi in 1812. (3)
At the west end a wall remains which is reputed to belong to the 14th century tower house. House later, may date to 17th century; small datestone '1631' over a door, and a priesthole in the wall above the archway. Rest is 18th century. Plasterwork by William Burnop in 1797. Grounds laid out by Capability Brown in 1776 [see NY 88 SW 29]. (4)
The old tower stood at the west end of the present building and was probably erected towards the end of the 14th century by Edward Charlton who held lands there in 1343. (5)
Hesleyside is the finest mansion in the National Park and an eminently interesting building to find anywhere. It is as present a courtyard house with four ranges of various dates. When the house actually started is not known but it is suggested that during repairs or alterations, thick walls were observed in the south-west corner which might be suggestive of an earlier tower. However, the earliest visible remains are those of a 17th century loggia with round arches, now embedded in the courtyard wall. Beside them is a re-set stone with the date 1631 - a date which would match the logiia arches perfectly well.
The south façade was rebuilt in 1719 and it is a most impressive piece of work. Originally seven bays and three storeys with segment-headed windows in heavy raised surrounds. There are giant angle pilasters, a cornice and a parapet with four splendid heraldic beasts.
The two right bays were added in identical style by William Newton in 1796 when he added the north-east front - a remarkable piece of architectural sympathy.
Newton's front of 1796 is also seven bays and three storeys. The windows are in architrave surrounds with cornices. The centre bay has a doorway with Ionic pilasters and a pediment over the first-floor window.
The north front was much altered in the mid-19th century. The present entrance to the left is via an Ionic porch of 1796 which was moved from the south-east front. The north side of the courtyard has a three-bay screen with a central carriage arch and above it a tall clock tower with pyramidal roof. These alterations were done by Ignatius Bonomi in 1847. Bonomi was a personal frined of the Charltons and stayed often in the house. He did work here several times including remodelling the staircase after a fire in 1812. He provided a handsome composition with a screen of Ionic columns and a wrought iron balustrade. (6)
Additional reference. (7)
5/21 Hesleyside Hall Grade II*. Country House. 1719, east front by William Newton 1796. Earlier core; and alterations mid C19. Ashlar with Lakeland slateroofs. A courtyard house. 3 storeys. South front of 1719, 9 bays with the right 2 added in same style by William Newton. Doorway in central 3 bays was formerly archway to courtyard and has moulded segmental arch with keystone and an outer frame of fluted Tuscan pilasters and cornice. Segment-headed windows, with keystones. Band above 1st floor. Giant pilasters at angles and after 7th bay. Moulded cornice and parapet topped by 4 heraldic beasts. To left, late C18 lower section with first 2 sash windows then blank walling with pilasters, cornice and parapet.
East front 7 bays. Doorway with Ionic pilasters, frieze and cornice. All windows in entablature except top windows which have architraves only. Pediment to window above door. Slightly projecting 3-bay pedimented centre with rusticated quoins. Rusticated quoins at angles also. Plain parapet.
Entrance side has square open porch, brought from west front in mid C19, which has Ionic columns and Adam-style capitals. To left a niche with an urn and a panel above with lion rampant. To right, a 3 bay screen to courtyard has central arch with rusticated surround, and above a 2-stage clock tower. Lower stage has clock and upper open stage, which is probably late C19, has round-arched openings,heavy banded angle pilasters and Italianate pyramidal roof.
East range, extensively altered mid C19, has irregular fenestration including several Venetian windows. Remnants of early C17 loggia arcade with heavily rusticated arches visible in courtyard wall. Hipped roofs with tall stone ridge stacks.
Good interior includes hall which has an imperial staircase with elaborate cast iron balusters; also an Adam-style plaster ceiling and Ionic columns and pilasters. This work was done by Ignatius Bonomi in 1812. dining room has stucco and painted deoration of 1847. (8a)
The Charlton family built a tower at South Charlton in the early 14th century, naming the new tower Hesleyside. Edward Charlton is the first recorded resident there in 1343. It was a substantial building, for in 1525 it garrisoned 50 men who drove off a Scottish raiding party. In 1540 it was described as a massive square building with a collection of dwelings about it. The transformation into the present Hesleyside Hall began in 1631. The pele tower survived until the 1796 reconstruction when it was pulled down.Listed by Cathcart King and by Dodds. (8b,c)
In 1541 the tower is mentioned as being in the inheritance of '.... Charleton sonne to Edward Charleton deceased'. To the east side of the tower was added a 17th century wing believed to have been built in 1631. In 1719 this wing was reconstructed but the core of the earlier building took place in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
The present building is quadrangular with work of 1719 on the south side. (Architectural description). (1)
The oldest portion of the present house is the south front which is Queen Anne (probably the 1719 rebuilding referred to by Authority (1), the remainder has been constructed and reconstructed from the 18th to 20th centuries inclusive.
'A' NY 81588371. The Pele tower was situated slightly to the west of the house (now an ornamental garden) it was taken down in the 19th century and the material used to construct a stable, the stable itself has now been demolished and the material spread. Deeds of property mention the Pele, its site, and demolition. (2)
Hesleyside Hall, Grade II*. Country House. 1719; east front by William Newton 1796. Earlier core; alterations mid-19th century. Ashlar with Lakeland slate roofs. Courtyard house. Three storeys. South front 1719. Good interior includes hall with imperial staircase with elaborate cast-iron balusters; Adam-style plaster ceiling and Ionic columns and pilasters - by Ignatius Bonomi in 1812. (3)
At the west end a wall remains which is reputed to belong to the 14th century tower house. House later, may date to 17th century; small datestone '1631' over a door, and a priesthole in the wall above the archway. Rest is 18th century. Plasterwork by William Burnop in 1797. Grounds laid out by Capability Brown in 1776 [see NY 88 SW 29]. (4)
The old tower stood at the west end of the present building and was probably erected towards the end of the 14th century by Edward Charlton who held lands there in 1343. (5)
Hesleyside is the finest mansion in the National Park and an eminently interesting building to find anywhere. It is as present a courtyard house with four ranges of various dates. When the house actually started is not known but it is suggested that during repairs or alterations, thick walls were observed in the south-west corner which might be suggestive of an earlier tower. However, the earliest visible remains are those of a 17th century loggia with round arches, now embedded in the courtyard wall. Beside them is a re-set stone with the date 1631 - a date which would match the logiia arches perfectly well.
The south façade was rebuilt in 1719 and it is a most impressive piece of work. Originally seven bays and three storeys with segment-headed windows in heavy raised surrounds. There are giant angle pilasters, a cornice and a parapet with four splendid heraldic beasts.
The two right bays were added in identical style by William Newton in 1796 when he added the north-east front - a remarkable piece of architectural sympathy.
Newton's front of 1796 is also seven bays and three storeys. The windows are in architrave surrounds with cornices. The centre bay has a doorway with Ionic pilasters and a pediment over the first-floor window.
The north front was much altered in the mid-19th century. The present entrance to the left is via an Ionic porch of 1796 which was moved from the south-east front. The north side of the courtyard has a three-bay screen with a central carriage arch and above it a tall clock tower with pyramidal roof. These alterations were done by Ignatius Bonomi in 1847. Bonomi was a personal frined of the Charltons and stayed often in the house. He did work here several times including remodelling the staircase after a fire in 1812. He provided a handsome composition with a screen of Ionic columns and a wrought iron balustrade. (6)
Additional reference. (7)
5/21 Hesleyside Hall Grade II*. Country House. 1719, east front by William Newton 1796. Earlier core; and alterations mid C19. Ashlar with Lakeland slateroofs. A courtyard house. 3 storeys. South front of 1719, 9 bays with the right 2 added in same style by William Newton. Doorway in central 3 bays was formerly archway to courtyard and has moulded segmental arch with keystone and an outer frame of fluted Tuscan pilasters and cornice. Segment-headed windows, with keystones. Band above 1st floor. Giant pilasters at angles and after 7th bay. Moulded cornice and parapet topped by 4 heraldic beasts. To left, late C18 lower section with first 2 sash windows then blank walling with pilasters, cornice and parapet.
East front 7 bays. Doorway with Ionic pilasters, frieze and cornice. All windows in entablature except top windows which have architraves only. Pediment to window above door. Slightly projecting 3-bay pedimented centre with rusticated quoins. Rusticated quoins at angles also. Plain parapet.
Entrance side has square open porch, brought from west front in mid C19, which has Ionic columns and Adam-style capitals. To left a niche with an urn and a panel above with lion rampant. To right, a 3 bay screen to courtyard has central arch with rusticated surround, and above a 2-stage clock tower. Lower stage has clock and upper open stage, which is probably late C19, has round-arched openings,heavy banded angle pilasters and Italianate pyramidal roof.
East range, extensively altered mid C19, has irregular fenestration including several Venetian windows. Remnants of early C17 loggia arcade with heavily rusticated arches visible in courtyard wall. Hipped roofs with tall stone ridge stacks.
Good interior includes hall which has an imperial staircase with elaborate cast iron balusters; also an Adam-style plaster ceiling and Ionic columns and pilasters. This work was done by Ignatius Bonomi in 1812. dining room has stucco and painted deoration of 1847. (8a)
The Charlton family built a tower at South Charlton in the early 14th century, naming the new tower Hesleyside. Edward Charlton is the first recorded resident there in 1343. It was a substantial building, for in 1525 it garrisoned 50 men who drove off a Scottish raiding party. In 1540 it was described as a massive square building with a collection of dwelings about it. The transformation into the present Hesleyside Hall began in 1631. The pele tower survived until the 1796 reconstruction when it was pulled down.Listed by Cathcart King and by Dodds. (8b,c)
N7973
Disclaimer -
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.