Kirkharle Hall
| Kirkharle Hall | |
| Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Kirkharle Hall | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NZ013824 |
| Location: | 55°8’10"N, 1°58’48"W |
| History | |
| Country house | |
| Information | |
Kirkharle Hall was a country house at Kirkharle, Northumberland, and was once the seat of the Loraine family. Now it is now much reduced and in use as a farmhouse. The Hall is in the upper reaches of the Wansbeck valley; almost adjacent to the A696 road; twelve miles west of Morpeth and two miles southeast of Kirkwhelpington.
History
Kirkharle name was first recorded, as Herle in 1177,[1] and derives either from the Old English "Herela-lea" which means "Herela's Grove" or from the Old English "herg-lea" which means "temple-grove" a place of worship in pre-Christian times.[2] Other early forms included Kyrkeherle (c.1250), Kyrkherll (1346) and Kirkehirle (1428),[1] the "kirk" element denoting a "church".[2]
The Loraine Baronets acquired it by marriage the manor from the De Harles who owned it in the 14th century,[3] and derived their name (literally "of Harle") from the village.[4]
Following its sale to a local farmer in the early 19th century the Hall was largely demolished. Only one wing was retained which was rebuilt as a farmhouse. It is a Grade II listed building.[5]
Nearby stands a memorial stone erected in 1728 to replace an earlier memorial commemorating Robert Loraine who was killed by marauding Scots in 1483.[6]
Among the quaint epitaphs in the church upon departed Loraines is the following:
Here lyes the Body of Richard Loraine, Esq., who was a proper handsome man of good sense and behaviour : he dy'd a Batcheler of an Appoplexy walking in a green field near London, October 26th, 1738, in the 38 Year of his Age.[3]
The surrounding parkland was designed in the 18th century by Capability Brown who was born at Kirkharle and who began his career as a gardener in the park. The park is a 'Registered Historic Park' Grade II.[7]
The present owner has redeveloped the farm and its outbuildings to create Kirkharle Courtyard, a development incorporating historical, retail and craft centres.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Place-names of Northumberland and Durham, Cambridge University Press, pp. 128
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Beckensall, Stan. 'Northumbrian Place-Names: A Guide To The Meaning of Town And Village Names'. Butler Publishing 2004. ISBN 0-946928-41-X. Page 37
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hugill, Robert (1931). Road Guide to Northumberland and The Border. Newcastle upon Tyne: Andrew Reid & Company, Limited. pp. 157–8.
- ↑ The surnames of Scotland: their origin, meaning, and history, George Fraser Black, New York Public Library, 1946, P.344
- ↑ Kirkharle farmhouse&nbps;- Heritage Gateway
- ↑ Inscription on Kirkharle memorial stone&nbps;- Heritage Gateway
- ↑ Keys to the Past: Kirkharle Hall landscape park