Seaton Delaval Hall is a National Trust property in Northumberland, dating from the 17th century.
In 1822 the main house was gutted by fire, and has remained an empty
shell ever since. Thanks to the help of local people, the kitchen and
stable wings were saved, together with family portraits, furniture and
archives. The central house remained a roofless ruin until about
1859-60, when wall tops were rebuilt to support a new roof, and
cast-iron columns were used to strengthen internal walls. Further
restoration was conducted in the early 1960s, including replacement of
windows, restoration of the upstairs gallery in the main hall, and
paving of the floors.
The west wing, originally servants
quarters, became the family house in the 1950s until 2007. Today it
houses the usual collection of old furniture and paintings. But it is
the great empty space of the main house that, for me, was far more
interesting. It's a place I could quite happily revisit many times.
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