Name: Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Address: Belsay, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE20 0DX. Follow the brown signs. Sat Nav: NE20 0DU
Telephone: 01661 881813

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Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Open daily, 10am - 5pm

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Address

Belsay, Nr Morpeth, Northumberland, NE20 0DX. Follow the brown signs. Sat Nav: NE20 0DU

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Playshapes at Belsay Hall

Playshapes is a unique, interactive art installation created by artist Pippa Hale where visitors can use their imaginations to create new structures and sculptures, and then climb and have fun on their own creations!

At the beginning of each 45 minute play session, eight interactive cubes are set out in the library. They can be broken down into a mix of steps, triangles, prisms, and cylinders to rearrange and play on either alone or in groups.

Find out more

Things to See and Do

What's On

Playshapes at Belsay Hall

Sat 19th Oct - Sun 3rd Nov 10:30am - 4pm
Spooky Woodland Walk at Belsay Hall

Mon 28 - Thurs 31 Oct 2024 5:30pm, 6:30pm & 7:30pm
Halloween Half-Term at Belsay Hall

Sat 26 Oct - Sun 3 Nov 2024 10am - 4pm
Christmas Fair at Belsay Hall

Sat 23rd Nov & Sun 24th Nov 10am - 4pm
Father Christmas at Belsay Hall

Weekends from 30 Nov to 22 Dec 2024 10am - 4pm
Festive Fun at Belsay Hall

Weekends from 30 Nov - Sun 22 Dec 2024 10am - 4pm
Wreath Making Workshops at Belsay Hall

Thurs 5 Dec & Sat 7 Dec 10:30am - 12:30pm & 13:30pm - 15:30pm
Members' Event: Christmas Book-Folding at Belsay Hall

Sun 8 Dec 2024 10am - 12pm
Half Term History Makers at Belsay Hall

Sat 22 Feb - Sun 2 March 2025 10am - 4pm

Belsay Hall Timeline

1270Beleshou

Sir Richard de Middleton, Lord Chancellor to Henry III, owns the estate, known then as Beleshou.

Find out more about the history of Belsay

1317Royal Betrayal

Middleton's only heirs are hanged, drawn and quartered in London after attempting to betray the crown. The Belsay estate is forfeited.

1391Middleton Return

After a succession of owners, the marriage of John Middleton into the Stryvelyn family returns the estate to the Middletons. A new tower is probably built in celebration.

1614Early Additions

Thomas Middleton redevelops the castle and adds a Jacobean range, one of the first completely undefended buildings in the county.

C 1711Georgian Style

A plain west wing is added to counterbalance the medieval tower.

Late 18th CenturyLandscape Park

Sir William Middleton, 5th baronet, creates informal planting, a serpentine drive, a bridge over a newly formed lake and a folly.

1795-6An Early Inheritance

After the unexpected death of his brothers and father, 16 year old Charles Middleton inherits. He adopts his wealthy grandfather's last name, Monck, to inherit his Lincolnshire estate.

September 1804 - April 1806Epic Honeymoon

Monck, 25, marries his cousin and honeymoons in Europe, sketching along the way. He returns to design the New Hall in an avant-garde classic style, inspired by this trip.

1817-1867Picturesque Grounds

After moving into the completed New Hall, Monck plants exotic imported trees and creates formal terraces, a canyoned quarry garden, broad terrace walks through trees and innovative heated kitchen gardens.

1867-97Arthur Middleton

Sir Charles's grandson demolishes the Georgian west range. He rebuilds the 1614 house, re-roofs the castle, introduces exotic, colourful plants, and adds a pond and second arch to the quarry garden.

1939-1945Army Occupation

The army takes residence and the gardens are neglected. Furniture is stored in the attics and servant quarters are used for ordinary soldiers. The library becomes the officers' lounge.

1962Middletons Retire

With fewer maintenance funds, Sir Stephen Middleton, 9th baronet, moves into Swanstead, a smaller and more manageable house on the estate, where he lives until his death.

1980A Rotted Mansion

Ownership of the empty and rotting mansion is transferred to the state, who strip back wood, plasterwork and architectural features to attempt to deal with the damp.

2000Restoration Works

English Heritage replaces floors in the anteroom, housekeeper's room, estate office and Sir Charles Monck's bedroom. Formal gardens are restored to their appearance in the 1920s and 1930s.

PresentBelsay Today

Belsay Hall's stark and inspiring spaces are used for displays of contemporary fashion, furniture, decorative arts and cutting-edge sensory installations.

Learn more about the history of Belsay Hall

'Lucky Spot' by Stella McCartney at Belsay (2009)

Nearby Places
Similar Places

Heddon on the Wall Hadrian's Wall
7.6 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Aydon Castle
9.28 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Prudhoe Castle
9.38 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Aydon Castle
9.28 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Prudhoe Castle
9.38 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Tynemouth Priory and Castle
18.47 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Nearby Places
- Heddon on the Wall Hadrian's Wall
  7.6 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
- Aydon Castle
  9.28 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
- Prudhoe Castle
  9.38 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
Similar Places
- Aydon Castle
  9.28 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
- Prudhoe Castle
  9.38 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
- Tynemouth Priory and Castle
  18.47 miles from Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Playshapes at Belsay Hall

Things to See and Do

The Wild Man Play Area

A grand family home

Enchanting Gardens

Medieval Castle

What's On

Playshapes at Belsay Hall

Spooky Woodland Walk at Belsay Hall

Halloween Half-Term at Belsay Hall

Christmas Fair at Belsay Hall

Father Christmas at Belsay Hall

Festive Fun at Belsay Hall

Wreath Making Workshops at Belsay Hall

Members' Event: Christmas Book-Folding at Belsay Hall

Half Term History Makers at Belsay Hall

Guidebook: Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Belsay Hall Timeline

1270Beleshou

1317Royal Betrayal

1391Middleton Return

1614Early Additions

C 1711Georgian Style

Late 18th CenturyLandscape Park

1795-6An Early Inheritance

September 1804 - April 1806Epic Honeymoon

1817-1867Picturesque Grounds

1867-97Arthur Middleton

1939-1945Army Occupation

1962Middletons Retire

1980A Rotted Mansion

2000Restoration Works

PresentBelsay Today

Heddon on the Wall Hadrian's Wall

Aydon Castle

Prudhoe Castle

Heddon on the Wall Hadrian's Wall

Aydon Castle

Prudhoe Castle

Aydon Castle

Prudhoe Castle

Tynemouth Priory and Castle

Gallery for Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

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