Lemmington Hall

Lemmington Hall
Northumberland
Rear of hall, showing restored 15th-century tower
Location
Grid reference:	NU12111129
Location:	55°23’44"N, 1°48’37"W
History
	Country house
Information
Owned by:	Ruff family

Lemmington Hall is an 18th-century country mansion incorporating a 15th-century tower house, situated near Edlingham, Northumberland. It is a Grade II* listed building.

The original tower house built for the Beadnall family in the early 15th century was a four-storey construction which was reduced in height in the 17th century when Nicholas Fenwick (Mayor of Newcastle 1720) converted the building into a country house.

Despite substantial alterations and improvements by the local architect William Newton in the late 18th century, the property had become a roofless ruin by the end of the 19th century. It was completely restored by Sir Stephen Aitchison, who acquired the ruinous property in 1913.

In 1927 Aitchison bought an 80-ffot column, designed by Sir John Soane dedicated to the memory of members of the Evelyn family of Felbridge, Surrey, which he dismantled and re-erected in the grounds at Lemmington.

In 1825 the property was acquired by William Pawson of Shawdon Hall (High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1826) and in 1947 was converted for use as a convent for the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. More recently the house has been used as a residential care home.

The hall has recently been renovated; it is under ownership of the Ruff family.

The Ruff family also own a selection of animals on the Lemmington Hall estate including peacocks and peahens.

A Peacock at Lemminton Hall

Forge Cottage

After completion of renovating Lemmington Hall the Ruff family also took on the responsibility to renovate several of the outbuildings. One of them was forge cottage, this has been transformed into a luxury holiday cottage, previous to it being a holiday rental it was a dilapidated building which was once home to the local blacksmith of the area.

Forge Cottage

The master bedroom in Forge Cottage

The road at the rear of the hall

References

• National Heritage List 1041996: Lemmington Hall
• Lemmington Hall on the SINE Project (Structures of the North East)