Otterburn Hall
Encyclopedia
Otterburn Hall is a AA
four-star fortified English country house
and estate, now used as a hotel, in Otterburn, Northumberland
. It is situated in 500 acres (202.3 ha) of deer park and woodland in the Northumberland National Park
, northeastern England
. The building was constructed in 1870 for Lord James Douglas, the land given to him as recompense for the death of Lord James Douglas
, who fought at the Battle of Otterburn
, and was killed near Otterburn Tower
(originally a castle), itself founded in 1086, and rebuilt in 1830. Both Otterburn Hall and Otterburn Castle have been seats of landed gentry
.
is situated in the Redesdale
valley in a rural national park. It is north of Otterburn
in Northumberland
, and 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of Cramlington
. The hall's estate encompasses an area of 500 acres (202.3 ha) of deer park and woodland. An 8 miles (12.9 km) stretch of the River Rede
flows close to the estate. There are several historical buildings nearby, including Otterburn Church
, built in 1857; Otterburn Tower, a Grade II listed castellated mansion built in 1830 at the site of a medieval tower whose vestiges no longer remain; and Otterburn Mill
, which dates to the 1800s.
asked the hall's owner, Henry Ellison, for permission to erect a monument on the field to honor his ancestor who died during the Battle of Otterburn
. Ellison denied the request and raised a monument himself which included an obelisk, possibly an architrave
removed from Otterburn Hall's kitchen fireplace, which was placed into a socketed battle stone.
The present building was constructed in 1870 for Lord James Douglas on land gifted as recompense for the death of his ancestor, Lord Douglas, who fought at the Battle of Otterburn. Stables, lodges, and a farm were part of the 19th century complex. By 1907, Sir Charles Morrrison-Bell, 1st Bart. was of Otterburn Hall. During World War II
, from 1940 to 1944, the hotel was used as a military hospital. The Otterburn Training Area
, established in 1911 and owned by the Ministry of Defence
, is nearby and is the second largest live firing range in the country. In 1948, it was acquired by a group of Christian business men who wanted to start a new venture in Christian education. By 1980, the building was converted into a hotel.
Architectural Association School of Architecture
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, more usually known as the AA, is an architectural school in London, United Kingdom...
four-star fortified English country house
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
and estate, now used as a hotel, in Otterburn, Northumberland
Otterburn, Northumberland
Otterburn is a small village in Northumberland, England, northwest of Newcastle Upon Tyne on the banks of the River Rede, near the confluence of the Otter Burn, from which the village derives its name. It lies within the Cheviot Hills about from the Scottish border...
. It is situated in 500 acres (202.3 ha) of deer park and woodland in the Northumberland National Park
Northumberland National Park
Northumberland National Park is the northernmost national park in England. It covers an area of more than 1030 km² between the Scottish Border in the north to just south of Hadrian's Wall. It is one of the least populated and least visited of the National Parks...
, northeastern England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The building was constructed in 1870 for Lord James Douglas, the land given to him as recompense for the death of Lord James Douglas
James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas
Sir James Douglas, 2nd Earl of Douglas and Mar was an influential and powerful magnate in the Kingdom of Scotland.-Early life:He was the eldest son and heir of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas and Margaret, Countess of Mar...
, who fought at the Battle of Otterburn
Battle of Otterburn
The Battle of Otterburn took place on the 5 August 1388, as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scottish and English.The best remaining record of the battle is from Jean Froissart's Chronicles in which he claims to have interviewed veterans from both sides of the battle...
, and was killed near Otterburn Tower
Otterburn Tower
Otterburn Tower is a Grade II listed castellated, three star country house hotel in Otterburn, Northumberland. It is set in of deer park and woodland in the Northumberland National Park in northeastern England...
(originally a castle), itself founded in 1086, and rebuilt in 1830. Both Otterburn Hall and Otterburn Castle have been seats of landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
.
Geography
The English country houseEnglish country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
is situated in the Redesdale
Redesdale
Redesdale is a valley iin the western part of the county of Northumberland, in northeast England. This area contains the valley of the River Rede, a tributary of the North Tyne River. Redesdale includes the settlements of Elsdon, Otterburn, Rochester, Byrness and Carter Bar.Historically this...
valley in a rural national park. It is north of Otterburn
Otterburn, Northumberland
Otterburn is a small village in Northumberland, England, northwest of Newcastle Upon Tyne on the banks of the River Rede, near the confluence of the Otter Burn, from which the village derives its name. It lies within the Cheviot Hills about from the Scottish border...
in 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...
, and 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of Cramlington
Cramlington
Cramlington is a town and civil parish in the county of Northumberland, North East England, situated north of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. The town's name suggests a probable founding by the Danes or an Anglo-Saxon origin, the word "ton" meaning town. The population was estimated as 39,000 in...
. The hall's estate encompasses an area of 500 acres (202.3 ha) of deer park and woodland. An 8 miles (12.9 km) stretch of the River Rede
River Rede
The Rede is a river in Northumberland, England. The river rises on Carter Fell on the Anglo-Scottish border feeding Catcleugh Reservoir and joins the River North Tyne below the village of Redesmouth-See also:*Carter Bar*List of places in Northumberland...
flows close to the estate. There are several historical buildings nearby, including Otterburn Church
St John the Evangelist's Church, Otterburn
St John the Evangelist's Church is a church in Otterburn, Northumberland, northeast England, located off the A696 road. It was built in 1857.Three sisters, the Misses Davidson, of Lemmington Hall, and Mrs. Askew, of Pallinsburn, built Otterburn Church, in the year 1857, for the use of their...
, built in 1857; Otterburn Tower, a Grade II listed castellated mansion built in 1830 at the site of a medieval tower whose vestiges no longer remain; and Otterburn Mill
Otterburn Mill
Otterburn Mill is a mill in Otterburn, Northumberland, northeast England. It lies just south of the Otterburn Tower along the A696 road next to a bridge over the River Rede.It was owned by the Waddell family for many years and is over 250 years old....
, which dates to the 1800s.
History
An older Otterburn Hall existed at least as early as 1777. At that time, the Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of NorthumberlandHugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland
Lieutenant-General Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland, FRS was an officer in the British army and later a British peer...
asked the hall's owner, Henry Ellison, for permission to erect a monument on the field to honor his ancestor who died during the Battle of Otterburn
Battle of Otterburn
The Battle of Otterburn took place on the 5 August 1388, as part of the continuing border skirmishes between the Scottish and English.The best remaining record of the battle is from Jean Froissart's Chronicles in which he claims to have interviewed veterans from both sides of the battle...
. Ellison denied the request and raised a monument himself which included an obelisk, possibly an architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
removed from Otterburn Hall's kitchen fireplace, which was placed into a socketed battle stone.
The present building was constructed in 1870 for Lord James Douglas on land gifted as recompense for the death of his ancestor, Lord Douglas, who fought at the Battle of Otterburn. Stables, lodges, and a farm were part of the 19th century complex. By 1907, Sir Charles Morrrison-Bell, 1st Bart. was of Otterburn Hall. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1940 to 1944, the hotel was used as a military hospital. The Otterburn Training Area
Otterburn Training Area
The Otterburn Army Training Estate was established in 1911 and covers about 230 square kilometres of the Southern Cheviots. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence , and used for training some 30,000 soldiers a year...
, established in 1911 and owned by the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, is nearby and is the second largest live firing range in the country. In 1948, it was acquired by a group of Christian business men who wanted to start a new venture in Christian education. By 1980, the building was converted into a hotel.