Seaham Hall
| Seaham Hall | |
|---|---|
  Seaham Hall Seaham Hall shown within County Durham | |
| NZ421505 | |
| List of places: UK • England • County Durham | |
Seaham Hall is now a spa Hotel in County Durham, England. It was once owned by George Henry Robert Charles William Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry, although for much of his life he lived at Plas Machynlleth, his wife's home in Montgomeryshire.
History
Seaham Hall was one of the many properties acquired by Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry through his second marriage to Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest. She was one of the greatest heiresses of the time. She stood to inherit nearly 65,000 acres (260 km2).
The title Viscount Seaham was created as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the marriage, who became Earl Vane on his father's death; however, when the 4th Marquess of Londonderry died childless Earl Vane inherited the Londonderry titles and his eldest son took the courtesy title Viscount Castlereagh.
The family did not spend much time at this residence but used their Irish house - Mount Stewart, which was more impressive. In 1815 the poet Lord Byron married Anne Isabella Milbanke at Seaham Hall.
Benjamin Disraeli visited Seaham Hall in 1861.
The Londonderrys developed one of the County Durham estates into what is now the modern harbour town of Seaham. This town was designed to rival nearby Sunderland.
The house became a hospital during World War I, closing in 1978. During the 1980s and 1990s it was redeveloped as a hotel, a nursing home and finally a spa hotel.