Bywell, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Northumberland
England
Circa Date: 1760-66, incorporating earlier elements, w/19th century alterations and additions
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: Yes
Country House: Yes
An 1847 engraving of the house from "Durham and Northumberland, Their Lake & Mountain Scenery Illustrated"
Earlier Houses: The remains of the Medieval Bywell Castle were incorporated into a new house, Bywell Castle House, in the 19th century. The house is today a Grade II-listed building.
Built / Designed For: William Fenwick
House & Family History: In 1777 the architect John Carter submitted plans for additions to Bywell Hall, though it seems unlikely they were executed. On May 31, 1942 Wentworth Beaumont (later 3rd Viscount Allendale), who was serving in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during World War II, was shot down off the coast of the Netherlands. After his capture, he was interned in Stalag Luft III POW camp in Germany, where he was involved in the planning of the famous Great Escape. Because of his leg injury, Beaumont was not part of the actual escape, which took place during the night of March 24-25, 1944 (he was released in 1945, following the end of the war).
Collections: Lorrain's "St. Philip Baptising the Ethiopian Eunuch" was sold to the National Museum of Wales 1983-84.
Architect: James Paine Sr.
Date: Circa 1760
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 232, 771
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
Author: Sayer, Michael
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
ISBN: 0859551970
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Not Listed
Current Seat / Home of: Wentworth Beaumont, 4th Viscount Allendale; Beaumont family here since 1810.
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland, 16th century; Neville family here from the 14th century until 1571. John Fenwick, 18th century; Fenwick family seated at old house from 1571 until 1760. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: William Fenwick, 18th century; Fenwick family seated at new house from 1760 until 1810. Thomas Wentworth Beaumont, until 1848; Wentworth Blackett Beaumont, 1st Baron Allendale, 1848-1907; Wentworth Canning Blackett Beaumont, 1st Viscount Allendale, 1907-23; Wentworth Henry Canning Beaumont, 2nd Viscount Allendale, 1923-56; Wentworth Hubert Charles Beaumont, 3rd Viscount Allendale, 1956-2002.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
Ownership Details: Tours of the house must be booked in advance.
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01661-843-296
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.allendale-estates.co.uk
Historic Houses Member: Yes