Newton Hall
Encyclopedia
Newton Hall is a large housing estate in County Durham
, in England. It is situated to the north of Durham
, near Framwellgate Moor
and Pity Me
, and has the East Coast Main Line
running the length of its east boundary. Newton Hall was once the largest private housing estate in Europe.
, a record of the estates of the Bishop of Durham, Hugh le Puiset. Newton is described as held by the Abbot of Peterborough, and amongst others holding an interest in the land is Richard the Engineer. He was the Bishop’s famous mason/architect who was responsible for building Norham Castle
in Northumberland and most probably worked on Le Puiset’s additions to Durham Castle and Cathedral.
By 1337 the Bowes family held the manor of Newton and retained it until 1565, when it was sold to Anthony Middleton. On his death in 1581 it was sold to Thomas Blaikston, whose family kept the estate until shortly after 1662, when the Liddell family acquired it.
The Liddell family held Ravensworth Castle, near Gateshead
, as well as Newton and it was this northern part of the county that they developed their coal mining interests and acquired their wealth. Sir Henry Liddell (c1644–1723) was one of the prime movers in attempts to regulate the North East coal trade in the early 18th century, and he served as MP for Durham in 1689 and 1695-8, and Newcastle from 1701 – 10. It was under his guidance that the old Newton Hall was restored around 1717-23.
Recently, a collection of Sir Henry's letters and drawings has come to light revealing a great deal about these buildings and gardens at Newton. One of the earliest is a builder's final account for the main construction work dated 5 November 1717. The resultant remodelling was very successful, as the Hall's handsome west front would show. During this remodelling it was decided to install new sash windows, something of a contemporary design statement. These were originally made in London and some were sent up to Newton, but after difficulties fixing them Sir Henry agreed to have local craftsmen do the
work.
The gardens extended west and south of the Hall, with the service buildings to the north and east. Those at the north still exist today, at Brancepeth Close. A great walled garden was laid out to the south overlooking the City with formal ornate patterns with fashionable plants such as the pyramidal yew. To the west and beyond a small walled forecourt, stretched out the long avenue, framed by woodland on both sides.
Sir Henry never saw the house and gardens completed, dying in London in 1723. The Liddels stayed at Newton throughout the 18th century, extending the Hall in 1751 by adding an attic floor, probably within the earlier roof. Ravensworth Castle increasingly became their principal residence and in the 19th century the Newton Estate was sold to William Russell of Brancepeth Castle
who began to rent it out to professional gentlemen and minor gentry.
By the turn of the century it had ceased to be a private house and served as a branch of the County Lunatic Asylum. Finally vacated after the First World War, it was demolished in 1926. Its walls and gardens remained in a fragmentary state, in part, right up until the early 1970s, when the increasing demand for housing development on the old estate finally obliterated the upstanding remains.
The oldest remaining building on the site is Newton Hall farm cottage which stands hidden in trees off Carr House Drive, just down from the old fish pond which is drained but still visible. One of the wells used by the hall for drinking water still sits in what is now a garden close by. The majority of the other streets take their names from either cathedral cities (mainly those in the east of the estate) or castles in the north of England (mainly those in the west of the estate).
Photographs of the Hall in various states of repair as well as a map of the area before housing development hang in the Lounge of the Jovial Monk pub.
Once the largest housing estate in Europe until overtaken by a German development, however, Ingleby Barwick on Teesside has recently taken over this mantle. Newton Hall sits 2 miles (3.2 km) outside Durham
City Centre. Most of the housing was built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and is mainly 2 and 3 bedroomed Detached and semi-detached
houses, along with some 1 and 2 bedroomed flats. The original community centre,which was one of the original farm buildings, along with the playground and tennis courts were was demolished in 2007 to make way for a small development of housing.
is currently being built on the site.
The nearby Arnison Centre, built on fields in the 1990s, covers an area of 208000 square feet (19,323.8 m²) and serves much of Durham and beyond.
which connects to Darlington
and Newcastle upon Tyne
via Chester-le-Street
along the former route of the A1 through the region. A projected link between the A690
and A167 is still to be realised. Newton Hall is well served by buses and is 2 miles (3.2 km) from Durham railway station on the East Coast Main Line
.
and St Godric's Roman Catholic Primary School each comprise infant and juniors on the same site, whilst Newton Hall Infant School feeds into the adjoining Blue Coat Church of England Aided Junior School. The majority of Newton Hall children of secondary school age attend Framwellgate School Durham
in nearby Framwellgate Moor
, which also includes a sixth form. For further education
, New College, Durham is nearby.
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, in England. It is situated to the north of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, near Framwellgate Moor
Framwellgate Moor
Framwellgate Moor is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated to the north of Durham, and is adjacent to Pity Me and Newton Hall. It has a population of 5,404....
and Pity Me
Pity Me
Pity Me is a suburban village of Durham, England, located north of Framwellgate Moor and west of Newton Hall.-Etymology:There are various theories on the origin of Pity Me's unusual name...
, and has the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
running the length of its east boundary. Newton Hall was once the largest private housing estate in Europe.
History
The first mention of Newton occurs about 1183, in the Boldon BookBoldon Book
The Boldon Book contains the results of a survey of the bishopric of Durham that was completed on the orders of Hugh du Puiset, Bishop of Durham, in 1183, designed to assist the administration of the vast diocesan estates...
, a record of the estates of the Bishop of Durham, Hugh le Puiset. Newton is described as held by the Abbot of Peterborough, and amongst others holding an interest in the land is Richard the Engineer. He was the Bishop’s famous mason/architect who was responsible for building Norham Castle
Norham Castle
Norham Castle is a partly ruined castle in Northumberland, England, overlooking the River Tweed, on the border between England and Scotland. It is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument...
in Northumberland and most probably worked on Le Puiset’s additions to Durham Castle and Cathedral.
By 1337 the Bowes family held the manor of Newton and retained it until 1565, when it was sold to Anthony Middleton. On his death in 1581 it was sold to Thomas Blaikston, whose family kept the estate until shortly after 1662, when the Liddell family acquired it.
The Liddell family held Ravensworth Castle, near Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, as well as Newton and it was this northern part of the county that they developed their coal mining interests and acquired their wealth. Sir Henry Liddell (c1644–1723) was one of the prime movers in attempts to regulate the North East coal trade in the early 18th century, and he served as MP for Durham in 1689 and 1695-8, and Newcastle from 1701 – 10. It was under his guidance that the old Newton Hall was restored around 1717-23.
Recently, a collection of Sir Henry's letters and drawings has come to light revealing a great deal about these buildings and gardens at Newton. One of the earliest is a builder's final account for the main construction work dated 5 November 1717. The resultant remodelling was very successful, as the Hall's handsome west front would show. During this remodelling it was decided to install new sash windows, something of a contemporary design statement. These were originally made in London and some were sent up to Newton, but after difficulties fixing them Sir Henry agreed to have local craftsmen do the
work.
The gardens extended west and south of the Hall, with the service buildings to the north and east. Those at the north still exist today, at Brancepeth Close. A great walled garden was laid out to the south overlooking the City with formal ornate patterns with fashionable plants such as the pyramidal yew. To the west and beyond a small walled forecourt, stretched out the long avenue, framed by woodland on both sides.
Sir Henry never saw the house and gardens completed, dying in London in 1723. The Liddels stayed at Newton throughout the 18th century, extending the Hall in 1751 by adding an attic floor, probably within the earlier roof. Ravensworth Castle increasingly became their principal residence and in the 19th century the Newton Estate was sold to William Russell of Brancepeth Castle
Brancepeth Castle
Brancepeth Castle is a castle in the village of Brancepeth in County Durham, England, some 5 miles south-west of the city of Durham . It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
who began to rent it out to professional gentlemen and minor gentry.
By the turn of the century it had ceased to be a private house and served as a branch of the County Lunatic Asylum. Finally vacated after the First World War, it was demolished in 1926. Its walls and gardens remained in a fragmentary state, in part, right up until the early 1970s, when the increasing demand for housing development on the old estate finally obliterated the upstanding remains.
The oldest remaining building on the site is Newton Hall farm cottage which stands hidden in trees off Carr House Drive, just down from the old fish pond which is drained but still visible. One of the wells used by the hall for drinking water still sits in what is now a garden close by. The majority of the other streets take their names from either cathedral cities (mainly those in the east of the estate) or castles in the north of England (mainly those in the west of the estate).
Photographs of the Hall in various states of repair as well as a map of the area before housing development hang in the Lounge of the Jovial Monk pub.
Once the largest housing estate in Europe until overtaken by a German development, however, Ingleby Barwick on Teesside has recently taken over this mantle. Newton Hall sits 2 miles (3.2 km) outside Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
City Centre. Most of the housing was built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and is mainly 2 and 3 bedroomed Detached and semi-detached
Semi-detached
Semi-detached housing consists of pairs of houses built side by side as units sharing a party wall and usually in such a way that each house's layout is a mirror image of its twin...
houses, along with some 1 and 2 bedroomed flats. The original community centre,which was one of the original farm buildings, along with the playground and tennis courts were was demolished in 2007 to make way for a small development of housing.
Public Houses and Shops
Newton Hall has two shopping parades and a public library. There are two public houses, the Jovial Monk built in 1980 and the Newton Grange built in 2006. The estate's first pub, the Newton Hall, was built in 1968 but was demolished in August 2009. A private nursing homeNursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
is currently being built on the site.
The nearby Arnison Centre, built on fields in the 1990s, covers an area of 208000 square feet (19,323.8 m²) and serves much of Durham and beyond.
Transport
Newton Hall is bypassed by the A167A167 road
The A167 is a road in North East England. Most of its route was formerly the A1 as most of it is the original route of the Great North Road until the A1 was re-routed with the opening of the A1 in the 1960s....
which connects to Darlington
Darlington
Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, part of the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It lies on the small River Skerne, a tributary of the River Tees, not far from the main river. It is the main population centre in the borough, with a population of 97,838 as of 2001...
and Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
via Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
along the former route of the A1 through the region. A projected link between the A690
A690 road
The A690 is a road in County Durham running from Sunderland in the east through Durham to Crook.-Sunderland section:Throughout the Sunderland section it is known as either Durham Road or New Durham Road, and is one of the major routes in and out of the city. A single carriageway section runs from...
and A167 is still to be realised. Newton Hall is well served by buses and is 2 miles (3.2 km) from Durham railway station on the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
.
Schools
The estate contains several primary schools. Finchale Primary SchoolFinchale Primary School
Finchale Primary School is a primary school for boys and girls situated in Newton Hall in County Durham. The school, which opened in 1971, has approximately 165 pupils on its roll aged four to 11 years. It is currently undergoing a huge £1.5m redevelopment...
and St Godric's Roman Catholic Primary School each comprise infant and juniors on the same site, whilst Newton Hall Infant School feeds into the adjoining Blue Coat Church of England Aided Junior School. The majority of Newton Hall children of secondary school age attend Framwellgate School Durham
Framwellgate School Durham
Framwellgate School Durham is a large state Science College, Community School and Sixth Form Centre, in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham City, County Durham, England. The current Head Teacher is Mrs...
in nearby Framwellgate Moor
Framwellgate Moor
Framwellgate Moor is a village and civil parish in County Durham, England. It is situated to the north of Durham, and is adjacent to Pity Me and Newton Hall. It has a population of 5,404....
, which also includes a sixth form. For further education
Further education
Further education is a term mainly used in connection with education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is post-compulsory education , that is distinct from the education offered in universities...
, New College, Durham is nearby.