HISTORY OF THE ESTATE
HISTORY OF THE ESTATE
Tucked away in the heartland of ancient Northumberland and just minutes from Hadrian’s wall, the Matfen Hall estate has its own remarkable history dating back to the 1200s.
Northumberland is a place of peace and ancient beauty. Of big skies and wild history. And, secluded in 300 acres of unspoilt countryside, this Grade-II listed hall brings tranquil opulence and rich heritage to lands once ruled by Romans and Reivers.
ORIGINS
Established in the 13th century by Sheriff of Northumberland, Philip de Ulcotes, the manor of West Matfen was purchased first by Lancelot Fenwick in 1625 and then by John Douglas in 1680. Both men are descendants of notorious Border Reiver clans, wild riders who ruled and battled over our border region. In the 1700s, the Blackett Family took on the estate, moving into the manor of West Matfen in 1752.
1832 – 1836
In 1832, architect Thomas Rickman began work on Matfen Hall – built on the site of the manor of West Matfen for Sir Edward Blackett, 3rd Baronet. After a disagreement over architectural style, Sir Edward dismissed Rickman, taking on the designs himself. Finished in 1836, the impressive Jacobean-style mansion boasted a Gothic-style entrance and full-height Great Hall.
Matfen Hall was also home to a fireplace originally commissioned for Buckingham Palace. Naked forms in the design were deemed too risqué for royalty, so the fireplace was installed in the Drawing Room of Matfen Hall instead, where it remains today.
1965 – 1999
Remaining in the Blackett family, the magnificent hall was used as a residential nursing home on behalf of health and welfare charity, the Leonard Cheshire Foundation, from 1965 to 1994. And in 1999, Sir Hugh and Lady Blackett, opened the hall as a country house hotel for the first time – beginning a new journey for the historic building.
2020 – PRESENT DAY
In 2020, the estate was purchased by the Walwick Estate Group who began a programme of refurbishment, elevating and enhancing the guest experience whilst carefully preserving the history of the hall. Today, original features are thoughtfully illuminated alongside modern luxuries to create a 5-star experience for guests and a sustainable future for one of Northumberland’s historic assets.
WILD COUNTRY – NORTHUMBERLAND’S BORDER REIVERS
Today, Northumberland is England’s least populated and most peaceful county – a tranquil landscape of open skies and rolling moorland. But centuries ago, it was a wild and lawless border land – ruled over by warring clans of Border Reivers.
Click below to journey through Northumberland’s wild history, discover the lawless legacy of warring clans and trace your own Border Reiver ancestry.
Discover the History of Ancient Northumbria
The Ancient Frontier - Walking Hadrian's Wall
Christianity At The Edge: Lindisfarne and St Cuthbert
