Belsay
| Belsay | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Belsay Castle | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ101786 |
| Location: | 55°6’4"N, 1°50’28"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 436 (2011) |
| Post town: | Newcastle Upon Tyne |
| Postcode: | NE20 |
| Dialling code: | 01661 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Northumberland |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Hexham |
Belsay is a village in Northumberland. It is situated about 5 miles from Ponteland on the A696 which links the village with Newcastle upon Tyne and Jedburgh.
The nobleman and doctor John de Strivelyn was granted the manor around 1340 by Edward III. On his death, the estate passed to his daughter, who was married to Sir John Middleton, and has remained with the Middleton family since.
In Belsay are both Belsay Castle, a fine mediæval castle, and Belsay Hall.
About the village
Belsay Castle is a 14th-century mediæval castle situated at Belsay. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.[1]
The main structure, a three storey rectangular pele tower with rounded turrets and battlements, was constructed about 1370, and was the home of the Middleton family. In 1614 Thomas Middleton built a new manor house attached to the tower.[1] A west wing was added in 1711 but was later largely demolished in 1872 by Sir Arthur Middleton when the remainder of the house was considerably altered.[2]
The castle was abandoned as a residence by the family in the early 19th century when Sir Charles Monck built Belsay Hall close by.[3] It is in the care of English Heritage and is opened the public.[4]
Belsay Hall is a 19th-century country mansion and a Grade I listed building.[1] The house was built between 1810 and 1817 for Sir Charles Monck (then of Belsay Castle close by).Sir Charles himself was the designer of the building .It is a notable and early classical building. The house measures 100 feet square with a lower kitchen wing attached to the north side. It is in two storeys.[1]
The hall was the residence of the Middleton family until 1962.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Belsay) |
- Belsay Castle on CastleUK.net
- Belsay Castle - The Gatehouse
- Belsay Castle on North of the Tyne
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 National Heritage List 1042837: Belsay Castle
- ↑ "Belsay Castle". SINE Project, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. http://sine.ncl.ac.uk/view_structure_information.asp?struct_id=25. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1304489: Belsay Hall
- ↑ National Heritage List 13023: Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
