The Historic Houses and Heritage of Northumbria

On the way to our hotel in Newcastle, we visited the National Trust’s Nostell Priory in Yorkshire. We were able to see a world-class Thomas Chippendale collection, a rare 18th century dolls’ house and one of the first longcase clocks made by the famous inventor, John Harrison.
On Monday morning, we spent time at leisure in Bamburgh and were able to visit the Castle. Located on a basalt crag, this is one of the most imposing castles in England. It has been used as a backdrop in many films.
In the afternoon we visited the remains of Lindisfarne Priory with Jan Williams, our Blue Badge guide. Monks built the priory nearly 1,400 years ago and this is the site where St Aidan and St Cuthbert founded the great powerhouse of Christianity in Anglo Saxon Northumbria, and where the famous Lindisfarne Gospels were created in the early 700s.
The Priory’s Museum tells us about the Viking raids, the cult of St Cuthbert, and the beautiful medieval manuscript, the Lindisfarne Gospels. Apart from its original binding which is believed to have been lost in a Viking raid, the Lindisfarne Gospels has survived intact throughout the centuries and is now in the British Library. The current binding of the Gospels is from 1852.
On Tuesday morning we enjoyed a guided tour of Newcastle with Jan, our Blue Badge Guide. Jan introduced us to some North Eastern culture. She had us singing ‘The Blaydon Races” in a Geordie accent, while taking in sights such as The Millennium Bridge. The rest of the day was spent at leisure in Newcastle. 
Our guide, Jan, met us at our hotel on Wednesday morning and accompanied us throughout the day. We firstly visited the National Trust’s Wallington Hall, the much loved home to generations of the unconventional Treveylan family. Inside were family paintings, treasured collections and beautiful furniture. The house is surrounded by an informal landscape of lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland.
On Wednesday afternoon we visited the National Trust’s Cragside House and Gardens, a wonderful Victorian mansion dating from the 19th century and described as ‘the palace of a modern magician’. Its interior features state of the art hydraulics powering a revolutionary lift system and internal telephones which mesmerised visitors in its time. 
On Thursday, it was time to return home. On the way we visited the National Trust’s Ormesby Hall. Hidden in Middlesbrough, this Georgian Mansion was home to the Pennyman family for over 400 years. Here we discovered the family’s stories from ‘Wicked’ Sir James to Colonel Jim, survivor of the First World War. 
We are grateful to Jan, our expert Blue Badge Guide, who kept us informed and entertained. Thanks to Roger Turner for the photographs.

Many thanks to Louise and Tom for organising a memorable holiday.