📌 Seaton Sluice, Northumberland
★★★
Opening its doors to visitors in 2010, Seaton Delaval Hall is one of the National Trust’s newest properties. New to the Trust, that is – the hall dates to the 1720s, and was the last country house designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, who also designed Blenheim Palace. Admiral George Delaval was the Royal Navy officer and later politician who commissioned the hall’s construction, though he and the architect both died before its completion. In its heyday, the hall was famous for its raucous parties and practical jokes played on unsuspecting guests, leading to the resident Delaval family becoming known as the “Gay Delavals”. Sadly a devastating fire ripped through the mansion in 1822 and the heart of the building is still an empty shell; nevertheless, countless architectural features can still be admired, and conservation and restoration continues. The grounds are ideal for exploring or picnics on a sunny day, though with several large conurbations nearby, it can get quite busy.
🌍 Location
📌 The Avenue (A190) 1 mi west of Seaton Sluice
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NZ 322765
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.082219,-1.496486
🚌 Bus stops outside the hall
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
⌚Generally daily in school holidays, Wednesday to Sunday in termtime – see official website for details
🎫 £13 adult / £6.50 child / free for National Trust members
