Inside Crooked Hall, Durham: 800-Year-Old Home
Crook Hall is considered one of Durham's most significant medieval buildings.
The ancient house is Grade 1 listed and more than 800-years-old.
The stunning gardens here are seen as one of the best in the north of England - and it includes a huge maze.
Today, it is owned by the National Trust and open to the public.
It’s also reputedly haunted by the "White Lady," who, in her time, has been credited with ringing bells and even turning over tables at dinner gatherings.
The oldest part of Crook Hall we see today was built by Peter del Croke in the first half of the 14th century.
It's likely to have replaced an earlier building.
The medieval hall (pictured above) merges into a Jacobean manor house, which in turn merges into a Georgian town house, reflecting its development over the centuries.
The Hall provides a spectacular backdrop to the stunning 10-acre gardens, paddock and fields, alongside magnificent views over Durham city.
Intriguing paths lead you through a series of interlinked gardens, each with its own character. Discover blooming borders, secluded walled gardens, an orchard and a tranquil moat pool.
Sheltered spots tempt you to sit a while and soak up your surroundings.
The gardens are a haven for wildlife, alive with bees and butterflies collecting nectar from flowers, ducks and moorhens on the pond and songbirds in the trees.
Views of Durham Cathedral are a reminder that this green oasis is close to the heart of the city.
Pictured below is the cosy bookshop at Crook Hall Gardens.
Since opening in June, The National Trust has raised a staggering £6309 towards their conservation work.
Following the del Croke family residency, Crook Hall had a series of short-term tenants until 1372, when Alan de Billingham took ownership.
The Billingham family remained connected to the hall for almost 300 years and were employed by the Bishops of Durham at various points during this time.
It was Thomas Billingham who, in 1450, gave the natural spring known as Fram Well to the people of Durham as a clean wat.
In 1667 Thomas Billingham sold Crook Hall to Christopher Mickleton, who passed it on to his son, James, a year later.
James and his wife Frances made a series of changes to the hall, including a new wing and doorway.
John Mickleton, grandson of James and Frances, sold Crook Hall in 1721. By 1736 it was in the hands of the Hopper family of Shincliffe.
The Hoppers added the Georgian wing to the west end of the building, with good quality pine panelling, a fine staircase and a stuccoed ceiling.
Evidence suggests that they let the property rather than living it themselves.
In June 2020 the property closed to the public as the business went into liquidation as a result of the covid pandemic and associated lockdowns.
The property was subsequently put on the market with a guide price of £1.8 million. On 28 March 2022, the National Trust announced that it had acquired the property, with the intention of re-opening it to visitors.
Reviewing the gardens on TripAdvisor, one recent visitors said: “Probably the nicest gardens we have ever visited and we are RHS members!
”Hidden away very close to the centre of Durham this is an oasis of calm. Round every corner is another different and beautiful garden with views of the Cathedral and the countryside.
”Set on a hillside with a medieval hall and Georgian style house. One can really imagine living here surrounded by these amazing gardens.
”There is a nice NT cafe and the usual very friendly and helpful staff. Fabulous - we will definitely visit again when in the neighbourhood.”
Crook Hall Gardens is open daily 10am-5pm until 5th November, then 10am-4pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 17 December.
Follow signs for the National Trust car park off Frankland Lane. Parking is free for National Trust members, please scan your membership card.
There is a charge of £3 for up to 3 hours for all other visitors.
Blue badge spaces are also available.
Please note, the medieval hall is the only part of Crook Hall itself open to visitors.
If you’d like to visit, the address is: Frankland Ln, Sidegate, Durham DH1 5SZ.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please follow Exploring GB on Facebook for daily travel content and inspiration.
Don’t forget to check out our latest blog posts below!
Thank you for visiting Exploring GB.
