Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

Good to Know

Belsay is an English Heritage estate with three very different sights in one: a Greek Revival hall built in the early 19th century for the Middleton family, a medieval castle tower, and a remarkable quarry garden, where plants grow out of the old sandstone quarries from which the hall was built.

Why it's on our list: it's one of the most rewarding historic days out in Northumberland, and the walk from hall to castle through the quarry garden feels like stepping into another world.

Worth knowing: allow a good few hours. English Heritage members get in free, and it's worth checking opening times out of season.

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Belsay — A Brief History

Belsay tells the story of one family, the Middletons, over almost 700 years, moving from a fortified tower to one of the most unusual country houses in England.

1300s — The Middletons
The Middleton family is established at Belsay and builds a tall fortified tower house for protection in the troubled Border years.

1614 — A Jacobean Wing
With more settled times, a manor house wing is added to the tower, making it a more comfortable family home.

1804–1806 — A Greek Honeymoon
Sir Charles Monck, as he later became, spends a long honeymoon in Greece and returns inspired by the temples of Athens.

1810–1817 — Belsay Hall
He designs and builds Belsay Hall in the Greek Revival style. The family moves out of the old castle into the new hall.

1800s — The Quarry Garden
The quarries that supplied stone for the hall are planted up, first by Sir Charles and later by his grandson, Sir Arthur Middleton, creating a sheltered, almost secret garden.

1962 — The Family Leaves
The Middletons move out of the hall after more than six centuries at Belsay.

1980 — Into Guardianship
The estate passes into state care, and today it is looked after by English Heritage.

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