Belsay

Belsay
A large stone built ruined building. The nearer part is two stories with square windows; behind is a tall square keep with turrets and battlements. In the foreground is grass with a low stone wall; in the background a blue sky with a few white clouds.
Belsay Castle
Belsay
Belsay shown within Northumberland
Population 436 (2001)[1]
OS grid reference NZ101786
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode district NE20
Dialling code 01661
Police Northumbria
Fire Northumberland
Ambulance North East
EU Parliament North East England
UK Parliament

Belsay is a village in Northumberland, England. It is situated about 5 miles from Ponteland on the A696 which links the village with Newcastle upon Tyne and Jedburgh. The population of the civil parish was 436 at the 2001 census, increasing to 518 at the 2011 Census.[2]

Scottish 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.

Belsay is home to Belsay Castle, a fine medieval castle, and to Belsay Hall.


Landmarks

Belsay Castle is a 14th-century medieval castle situated at Belsay. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.[3]

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.[3] 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.[4]

The castle was abandoned as a residence by the family in the early 19th century when Sir Charles Monck built Belsay Hall close by.[5] It is administered by English Heritage and is open the public.[6]

Belsay Hall

Belsay Hall is a 19th-century country mansion and a Grade I listed building.[7] 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 (30 m) square with a lower kitchen wing attached to the north side. It is in two storeys.[7] The hall was the residence of the Middleton family until 1962.

Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery lies on a hilltop 3 miles to the north-west of Belsay, in the hamlet of Harnham.


References

  1. ↑ Office for National Statistics: Neighbourhood Statistics
  2. ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Images of England: Belsay Castle". English Heritage. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  4. ↑ "Belsay Castle". SINE Project, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Archived from the original on 2005-11-02. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  5. ↑ "Images of England: Belsay Hall". English Heritage. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  6. ↑ "Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens". English Heritage. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  7. 1 2 "Images of England: Belsay Hall". English Heritage. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
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