Report - Windlestone Hall, Durham, April17

[albino-jay]

History

Taken from Wikipedia

Windlestone Hall is a 19th-century country house situated near Rushyford, County Durham, England. It is a Listed building.

The Eden family who held the manor of Windlestone in the 17th century were Royalists during the English Civil War and Colonel Robert Eden who had served in the King's army was obliged to compound for the return of his confiscated estate

In 1835, the fifth Baronet, Robert Johnson Eden, replaced the 16th-century manor house with a new mansion designed by architect Ignatius Bonomi. The two-storey house presents a twelve-bay balustraded frontage to the east. A balustraded Doric order colonnade extends across nine bays of the ground floor. The north ends in a large apse. A billiard room was attached to the north east in the mid-19th century.

The house was the birthplace in 1897 of former Conservative Prime Minister Anthony Eden.

The house and estate were used as a prisoner of war camp during World War II, a satellite camp of Harperley POW Camp 93.

Between 1957 and 2006, it was occupied by Windlestone Hall School, a local authority residential special school. The school closed in 2006, and was sold for £240,000 by Durham County Council to William Davenport, a private investor, in 2011.

Durham County Council was criticised for the sale, especially when Windlestone Hall was put back on the market three years later for £2,500,000 - over ten times the previous sale price.

Davenport, the investor, was jailed for 6 years in 2016 for using forged documents to purchase the house and estate.

Back up for sale at £850k at the moment.​

The Explore

Was up in the NE with a couple of mates checking out Maiden Law morgue when we bumped into a few lads off here. We we going to go and check Durham County hospital out but they told s it was now dust and took us along to here instead. Happy days! So thanks to @cgould2010 and co for sorting that out.

Builders were onsite sheeting the windows and doors up as we were there but other than that it was a nnice relaxed day out. It is currently under offer so may not be left for too much longer.

https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/proper...-park-windlestone-ferryhill-dl17-id-200943164​

Pics

Pics are pretty self explanitory so ill just lump em up.​

 

[DentedHalo]

really awesome looking place. would love to get along here if I get the chance later in the year!

 

[ZerO81]

This place does look bloody nice!

 

[cgould2010]

Just seen this, no worries mate hope ya liked it, I still need to make my post on here as me and k*** were one of the 1st people in here and photos are just amazing

 

[Twinkletoes]

I'm spartacus.Nice shots mate .it's a shame how quick this place got trashed .

 

[Will Knot]

Very nice indeed ....told its sealed up now tho'

 

[dweeb]

What a fabulous place... Yet another left to fall into ruin I see. Doesn't look quite past it yet though, but that plaster-work won't last long with the lead missing.

 

[moz88]

Went up here last weekend and can safely say this place is well, but not perfectly, sealed. Personally I didn't get in, which was disappointing.

Pretty sad the leads missing from the roof as this place is quite grand, it's not going to last.

 

[Red Ant]

There are also the remains of the Eden family mausoleum and a ruined gatehouse nearby.

The mausoleum was broken into in the 50's. Two boys broke in and opened a coffin, finding the well-preserved corpse of Anthony Edens 9 year old son. They fled in terror. One recieved a warning, the other did a year in the clink.
From what I gather the mausoleum was repeatedly vandalised until the bodies were moved to St Helens Church in nearby West Auckland. The mausoleum was sealed and is long buried though the top half is still above ground.
In all, there were ten bodies that were moved. Eight from the mausoleum, but two were found outside of it in brick graves.
It's been years since I was there but I feel a craving to return. It's a fascinating place.

 

[Annieb]

Love the pics.

 

[Joshy1991]

History

Taken from Wikipedia

Windlestone Hall is a 19th-century country house situated near Rushyford, County Durham, England. It is a Listed building.

The Eden family who held the manor of Windlestone in the 17th century were Royalists during the English Civil War and Colonel Robert Eden who had served in the King's army was obliged to compound for the return of his confiscated estate

In 1835, the fifth Baronet, Robert Johnson Eden, replaced the 16th-century manor house with a new mansion designed by architect Ignatius Bonomi. The two-storey house presents a twelve-bay balustraded frontage to the east. A balustraded Doric order colonnade extends across nine bays of the ground floor. The north ends in a large apse. A billiard room was attached to the north east in the mid-19th century.

The house was the birthplace in 1897 of former Conservative Prime Minister Anthony Eden.

The house and estate were used as a prisoner of war camp during World War II, a satellite camp of Harperley POW Camp 93.

Between 1957 and 2006, it was occupied by Windlestone Hall School, a local authority residential special school. The school closed in 2006, and was sold for £240,000 by Durham County Council to William Davenport, a private investor, in 2011.

Durham County Council was criticised for the sale, especially when Windlestone Hall was put back on the market three years later for £2,500,000 - over ten times the previous sale price.

Davenport, the investor, was jailed for 6 years in 2016 for using forged documents to purchase the house and estate.

Back up for sale at £850k at the moment.​

The Explore

Was up in the NE with a couple of mates checking out Maiden Law morgue when we bumped into a few lads off here. We we going to go and check Durham County hospital out but they told s it was now dust and took us along to here instead. Happy days! So thanks to @cgould2010 and co for sorting that out.

Builders were onsite sheeting the windows and doors up as we were there but other than that it was a nnice relaxed day out. It is currently under offer so may not be left for too much longer.

https://www.reedsrains.co.uk/proper...-park-windlestone-ferryhill-dl17-id-200943164​

Pics

Pics are pretty self explanitory so ill just lump em up.​

Does anyone know if this is still derelict

 

[UrbanExNorthEast]

this place look awesome. I always feel sooooo sorry for all these country halls, yes some have been have by either becoming museums or sold and broken up into flats but so many have been lost to time.So sad.