Seaton Delaval Hall

My wife & I spent the day exploring a small portion of he NorthEast coastline. We commenced at Newbiggin by the Sea, down Blyth, then to Seaton Delaval and ended up in Whitley Bay for delicious fish & chips!

My wife suggested we visit Seaton Delaval Hall, which was a super suggestion. I'm constantly amazed by the number of hidden gems in the North East!

The Delaval family had owned the estate since the time of the Norman conquest. Admiral Delaval, having made his fortune from bounty while in the navy, purchased the estate from an impoverished kinsman.

Calling on the services of architect John Vanbrugh in 1718, the Admiral had originally wanted to modernise and enhance the existing mansion. But upon viewing the site, Vanbrugh felt he could do nothing and advised complete demolition of all except the ancient chapel near to the mansion, which is now the parish church of Our Lady. The works were completed in 1728, completed two years after the death of the Admiral, with the resulting new mansion the last country house Vanbrugh designed - it is regarded as his finest work.

On completion, the Admiral's nephew Francis had inherited the property, and moved in immediately. However, in 1822 the Centre Block was gutted by fire, said to have been caused by jackdaws nesting in the chimneys of the section of the east wing closest to the main house. This wing was subsequently demolished and various openings can still be identified to show where it joined the Centre Block. The house was partially restored in 1862-63, when the central block was re-roofed, although it remained a shell internally. The effects of the fire are clearly visible in the great hall, originally 30 feet (9.1 m) high but still open to the roof, with blackened walls and muse statues. Wikipedia.

The site is again under reconstruction & repair, so my wife & I were only able to see parts of the building - but we got in for free....bonus!