Seaton Delaval Hall
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Overview
Architect Sir John Vanbrugh (1664-1726) used his commission from Admiral George Delaval (1667-1723) to build a house on this windswept northern coast to indulge his taste for the dramatic. By the time Vanbrugh came to design his masterpiece at Seaton Delaval he had already produced both Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace. As a former playwright, Vanbrugh knew how to utilize scenery for impressive effect, and the north-facing entrance front of his main block is hugely powerful, with its towers and turrets and enormous columns dwarfing the central doorway. Even the garden front is monumentally and magnificently intimidating. From the outside, the hall looks whole and complete, but the Great Hall of the central block is semi-ruinous, open to the roof and still bearing the marks of the fire that swept through it in 1822. Blackened statues stand in their niches and a delicate iron gallery, now restored, gives access to vanished floors. In the Mahogany and Tapestry Rooms on the north side there is a display of family portraits and mahogany panelling survives, while the vaulted basement could have held supplies for an army. In the west wing the former kitchen is now the entrance hall, and in this and the other habitable rooms are furniture and paintings that were rescued from the blaze, as well as items from Melton Constable in Norfolk. Over in the opposite wing, Vanbrugh’s fine stables, like a pagan temple, still have the horses’ names above the classical niches holding their mangers. The stalls have their original finely moulded timberwork and paved floors.
Features
- Opening Times
- Open all year
- Opening Times: Open Nov-Feb, Sat-Sun 11-3; Mar & 24 Apr-14 Jul & Sep-Oct, Thu-Mon 11-5; 3-21 Apr & 17 Jul-Aug, daily 11-5
- Facilities
- Parking onsite
- Cafe
About the area
If it’s history you’re after, there’s heaps of it in Northumberland. On Hadrian’s Wall you can imagine scarlet-cloaked Roman legionaries keeping watch for painted Pictish warriors while cursing the English weather and dreaming of home.
Places to eat nearby View all
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Self-Catering
Burradon Farm Houses & Cottages
- Total units: 12
- Lawn area
- Garden furniture
- Dish washer
Nearby places to stay
Park Lodge
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Honeysuckle Cottage
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Burradon Farm Houses & Cottages
Here are twelve luxury self-catering properties that are conveniently located only a few miles from the spectacular Northumbrian coastline, with easy access to Newcastle upon Tyne and a...
Rose Cottage
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The Cartshed
The Cartshed is a brand new cottage, perfect for two. Built with accessibility in mind, it has a tranquil open plan living space with magnificent feature window and modern wet room, per...
Forge Cottage
Forge Cottage is a spacious barn conversion that sleeps 4. There were no tractors to do the land work when The Forge was originally built – only horses. What used to be the tack room an...
Buttermilk Cottage
Buttermilk Cottage used to be the dairy where the cows were milked. It is now a light and airy environment, featuring an open plan living space with breakfast bar and views of the ancie...
Briarhill House
Briarhill House is a superb family house with a spacious open plan design, perfect for special gatherings. It has a ground floor bedroom ideal for those who no longer like the stairs. W...
