Kirkley Hall
Encyclopedia
Kirkley Hall is a 17th century historic country mansion and Grade II listed building situated on the bank of the River Blyth
at Kirkley, near Ponteland
in the heart of the Northumberland
countryside, which is now an Horticultural
and Agricultural
training centre.
The manor of Kirkley was granted to the de Eure family in 1267 and Sir William Eure was recorded as in occupation of a tower house
there in 1415. In the early 17th century the manor came into the ownership of the Ogle family
and in 1632 Cuthbert Ogle built a new manor house
close to the site of the old house. A stone lintel preserved over a doorway in the present house bears this date, and the initials and arms of Cuthbert Ogle and his wife Dorothy Fenwick..
Substantial alterations were made to the structure in 1764 by Rev Newton Ogle (1726–1804), Dean
of Winchester Cathedral
, who also in 1788 erected an obelisk
in the grounds commemorating the accession of William and Mary
in 1689.
The house was substantially rebuilt by Rev John Saville Ogle in about 1832.
Notable members of the Ogle family connected with Kirkley include Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle
and Sir Chaloner Ogle, 1st Baronet
. See also Baron Ogle
and Ogle Baronets
.
The Ogles disposed of their Kirkley estates in 1922. The Hall which passed to Sir William Noble (later Lord Kirkley) was damaged by fire in 1929 and largely rebuilt by him on a somewhat reduced scale.
In 1946 the estate was acquired by the Northumberland County Council and in 1951 Kirkley Hall Farm Institute was established. In 1999 the estate became the land studies campus of Northumberland College.
The Hall is available for Corporate and Social events.
Weddings are also performed here because of the attractive surroundings which include ornamental gardens and grounds with all plants labelled, wall-trained fruit trees and greenhouse plants.
River Blyth, Northumberland
The River Blyth flows eastwards through southern Northumberland into the North Sea at the town of Blyth. It flows through Plessey Woods Country Park. The River Pont is a tributary....
at Kirkley, near Ponteland
Ponteland
Ponteland is a village situated in Northumberland near Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The name means island in the Pont , as the area consisted of a small piece of solid ground around St. Mary's church and the old bridge, surrounded by marshland. This marshland is now drained, with housing built on...
in the heart of the Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
countryside, which is now an Horticultural
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
and Agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
training centre.
The manor of Kirkley was granted to the de Eure family in 1267 and Sir William Eure was recorded as in occupation of a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
there in 1415. In the early 17th century the manor came into the ownership of the Ogle family
Ogle family
The Ogle family was prominent landed gentry in Northumberland from before the time of the Norman Conquest.-Origins:The earliest appearances of the family name was written Hoggel, Oggehill, Ogille and Oghill....
and in 1632 Cuthbert Ogle built a new manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
close to the site of the old house. A stone lintel preserved over a doorway in the present house bears this date, and the initials and arms of Cuthbert Ogle and his wife Dorothy Fenwick..
Substantial alterations were made to the structure in 1764 by Rev Newton Ogle (1726–1804), Dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
, who also in 1788 erected an obelisk
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
in the grounds commemorating the accession of William and Mary
William and Mary
The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the coregency over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, of King William III & II and Queen Mary II...
in 1689.
The house was substantially rebuilt by Rev John Saville Ogle in about 1832.
Notable members of the Ogle family connected with Kirkley include Admiral Sir Chaloner Ogle
Chaloner Ogle
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Chaloner Ogle was a British naval commander during the War of the Austrian Succession.-Naval career:Born the son of John Ogle, a Newcastle barrister, Ogle came from the Kirkley Hall branch of the prominent Northumbrian Ogle family of Northumberland...
and Sir Chaloner Ogle, 1st Baronet
Sir Chaloner Ogle, 1st Baronet
Sir Chalonor Ogle was an Admiral in the British navy.He was the son of Nathaniel Ogle of Kirkley Hall, Northumberland....
. See also Baron Ogle
Baron Ogle
The Ogles were a prominent Northumbrian family from before the time of the Norman Conquest. They settled at Ogle, Northumberland and in 1341 were granted a licence to fortify their manor house which became known as Ogle Castle. The family included seven Medieval Barons...
and Ogle Baronets
Ogle Baronets
The Ogle Baronetcy, of Worthy, was a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 12 March 1816 for Admiral Chaloner Ogle, of Kings Worthy, Hampshire. The Ogles were a prominent Northumberland family from before the time of the Norman Conquest...
.
The Ogles disposed of their Kirkley estates in 1922. The Hall which passed to Sir William Noble (later Lord Kirkley) was damaged by fire in 1929 and largely rebuilt by him on a somewhat reduced scale.
In 1946 the estate was acquired by the Northumberland County Council and in 1951 Kirkley Hall Farm Institute was established. In 1999 the estate became the land studies campus of Northumberland College.
The Hall is available for Corporate and Social events.
Weddings are also performed here because of the attractive surroundings which include ornamental gardens and grounds with all plants labelled, wall-trained fruit trees and greenhouse plants.