Matfen Hall
Encyclopedia
Matfen Hall is a 19th century country mansion in Matfen
, Northumberland
, England
the seat of the Blackett Baronets
and now also an hotel and country golf club. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The manor of West Matfen was owned in the 13th century by Philip de Ulcote and passed through his sisters to Felton, by marriage to Hastings and later to Lawson. In 1625 the estate was bought by Lancelot Fenwick of a branch the old established local family of Fenwick Tower
. The manor and manor house, West Matfen High Hall, was sold in 1680 to John Douglas. His granddaughter and Douglas heiress married Sir Edward Blackett Bt.
in 1757, thereby bringing the estate into the Blackett family
.
The present house was built to replace the old manor, in 1828 for Sir Edward Blackett, 6th Baronet
. The impressive Jacobean style
mansion
has a three-storey seven-bay entrance front. An important internal feature is a full-height Gothic
hall.
The hotel is renoun for its haunted activity and has appeared on the UK's Most Haunted programme. A number of ghosts have been spotted around the hotel; the most famous being the "blue boy" who at midnight has been spotted around the hall crying out and moaning in agony or maybe fear. The noises could be traced to a spot near a passage cut through a ten foot wall. When the bloodcurdling wails die away a soft halo of light appears around an old four poster bed. Anyone sleeping there, even today, can see the figure of a young boy dressed in blue, and surrounded by light. Behind the wall the bones of a young boy and fragments of blue clothing were discovered.
Another ghost, Mary, the wife of Philip de Ulcote, searches for her husband, who ran off with her sister. She appears desolate and broken hearted living in the castle by herself with only her baby girl as a companion. The rustle of her dress can be heard as she passes you by in the turret stairs.
Between 1965 and 1994 the house was leased out, operating as The Northumberland Cheshire Home
.
Sir Hugh Blackett, the 12th Baronet and Lady Blackett have since converted the hall into an hotel and country club, which opened in 1999. The Blacketts now live at Halton Castle a few miles west of Matfen.
Matfen
Matfen is a village and a civil parish in Northumberland, England, near the towns of Hexham and Newcastle upon Tyne. It is an example of an eighteenth-century planned estate village. It was the birthplace of the nineteenth-century Premier of British Columbia, William Smithe...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, 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...
the seat of the Blackett Baronets
Blackett Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for members of the Blackett family, both in the Baronetage of England. One creation is extant as of 2008...
and now also an hotel and country golf club. It is a Grade II* listed building.
The manor of West Matfen was owned in the 13th century by Philip de Ulcote and passed through his sisters to Felton, by marriage to Hastings and later to Lawson. In 1625 the estate was bought by Lancelot Fenwick of a branch the old established local family of Fenwick Tower
Fenwick Place
Fenwick Tower is a former Dalhousie University student residence in the south end of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, currently undergoing redevelopment into a residential and commercial complex...
. The manor and manor house, West Matfen High Hall, was sold in 1680 to John Douglas. His granddaughter and Douglas heiress married Sir Edward Blackett Bt.
Sir Edward Blackett, 4th Baronet
Sir Edward Blackett, 4th Baronet was a baronet and member of the British House of Commons for Northumberland....
in 1757, thereby bringing the estate into the Blackett family
Blackett Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for members of the Blackett family, both in the Baronetage of England. One creation is extant as of 2008...
.
The present house was built to replace the old manor, in 1828 for Sir Edward Blackett, 6th Baronet
Blackett Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for members of the Blackett family, both in the Baronetage of England. One creation is extant as of 2008...
. The impressive Jacobean style
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
mansion
has a three-storey seven-bay entrance front. An important internal feature is a full-height Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
hall.
The hotel is renoun for its haunted activity and has appeared on the UK's Most Haunted programme. A number of ghosts have been spotted around the hotel; the most famous being the "blue boy" who at midnight has been spotted around the hall crying out and moaning in agony or maybe fear. The noises could be traced to a spot near a passage cut through a ten foot wall. When the bloodcurdling wails die away a soft halo of light appears around an old four poster bed. Anyone sleeping there, even today, can see the figure of a young boy dressed in blue, and surrounded by light. Behind the wall the bones of a young boy and fragments of blue clothing were discovered.
Another ghost, Mary, the wife of Philip de Ulcote, searches for her husband, who ran off with her sister. She appears desolate and broken hearted living in the castle by herself with only her baby girl as a companion. The rustle of her dress can be heard as she passes you by in the turret stairs.
Between 1965 and 1994 the house was leased out, operating as The Northumberland Cheshire Home
Cheshire Home
- History :The term Cheshire Home started with the founding of Leonard Cheshire Disability, LCD, a UK based charity for helping disabled people through volunteer local communities. These services include care homes, supported living, domiciliary support, day services, resource centers,...
.
Sir Hugh Blackett, the 12th Baronet and Lady Blackett have since converted the hall into an hotel and country club, which opened in 1999. The Blacketts now live at Halton Castle a few miles west of Matfen.