Doxford House
Encyclopedia
Doxford House is a derelict 18th century mansion
in the Silksworth
area of Sunderland
, Tyne and Wear
, England
. It is a Grade II* listed building
Formerly known as Silksworth
House, it was constructed in 1775–1780 by William Johnson who on his death in 1792 bequeathed the property to his friend Henry Hopper. In 1831 Priscilla Hopper then heiress to the estate married William Beckwith of Thurcroft. He was High Sheriff of Durham in 1857. The Beckwiths moved to Shropshire in about 1890 and the house was let out.
In 1902, Charles David Doxford of William Doxford & Sons
, brother of Theodore Doxford
, took out a 99 year lease
on the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) estate. On his death in 1935, his daughter, Aline, bought out the lease. On her death in 1968, she bequeathed the house and estate to Sunderland Corporation who gave the house its present name and turned the gardens into Doxford Park
.
In 1989 the house became a students’ hall of residence for Sunderland University and from about 2000 to 2006 was occupied by the Lazarus Foundation, a drug rehabilitation
charity . Plans to turn the house into apartments were proposed in 2008.
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
in the Silksworth
Silksworth
Silksworth is a former coal mining village in Sunderland, located next to Tunstall, Farringdon and Gilley LawSilksworth a brief history:Silksworth is a former colliery village with a 100 year coal mining heritage...
area of Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is a Grade II* listed building
Formerly known as Silksworth
Silksworth
Silksworth is a former coal mining village in Sunderland, located next to Tunstall, Farringdon and Gilley LawSilksworth a brief history:Silksworth is a former colliery village with a 100 year coal mining heritage...
House, it was constructed in 1775–1780 by William Johnson who on his death in 1792 bequeathed the property to his friend Henry Hopper. In 1831 Priscilla Hopper then heiress to the estate married William Beckwith of Thurcroft. He was High Sheriff of Durham in 1857. The Beckwiths moved to Shropshire in about 1890 and the house was let out.
In 1902, Charles David Doxford of William Doxford & Sons
William Doxford & Sons
William Doxford & Sons Ltd, often referred to simply as Doxford, was a British shipbuilding company.-History:The Company was established by William Doxford in 1840. From 1870 it was based in Pallion, Sunderland, on the River Wear in Northeast England. The Company was managed by William Doxford's...
, brother of Theodore Doxford
Theodore Doxford
Sir Theodore Doxford, Kt, DL was a British shipbuilder and politician.-Early life:Doxford was born at Bridge Street in Bishopwearmouth, County Durham, on 1 February 1841. He was the eldest son of the eight surviving children of William Doxford and his wife, Hannah née Pile...
, took out a 99 year lease
Lease
A lease is a contractual arrangement calling for the lessee to pay the lessor for use of an asset. A rental agreement is a lease in which the asset is tangible property...
on the 24 acres (97,124.6 m²) estate. On his death in 1935, his daughter, Aline, bought out the lease. On her death in 1968, she bequeathed the house and estate to Sunderland Corporation who gave the house its present name and turned the gardens into Doxford Park
Doxford Park
Doxford Park is a suburb of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, located to the south-west of the city centre.Doxford Park is also the name of a wooded area of land located within the suburb....
.
In 1989 the house became a students’ hall of residence for Sunderland University and from about 2000 to 2006 was occupied by the Lazarus Foundation, a drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
charity . Plans to turn the house into apartments were proposed in 2008.