Kirkharle Hall

Kirkharle Hall was a country house at Kirkharle, Northumberland, England, the former seat of the Loraine family, 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; 12 miles (19 km) west of Morpeth; and 2 miles (3.2 km) 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 for the pre-Christian Angles.^[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.^[8]

References