Built / Designed For: Sir Francis Blake
House & Family History: The Twizell Estate was originally owned by the Selby family. Sir Francis Blake purchased the existing house circa 1770 for slightly under £2,000 and reportedly spent over £80,000 turning it into fantastic Gothick extravaganza; Twizell Castle was never finished and is today a ruin. When Colonel Horace St. Paul was making improvements to nearby Ewart Park he incorporated some architectural elements from Twizell Castle into his house.
Architect: James Nisbet
Date: Circa 1771
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 1995
Reference: pg. 706
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300072074
Book Type: Softback
Title: Lost Houses of Newcastle and Northumberland
Author: Faulkner, Thomas; Lowery, Phoebe
Year Published: 1996
Publisher: Yorkshire: Jill Raines
ISBN: 0951649426
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade II*
Park Listed: Not Listed
Past Seat / Home of: Selby family. Sir Francis Blake, 18th century.
Current Ownership Type: Unknown
Primary Current Ownership Use: Ruinous
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No