Washington, Dame Margaret's Hall (Washington House)

HER Number:
5667

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
Washington, Dame Margaret's Hall (Washington House)

Place:
Washington

Map Sheet:
NZ35NW

Class:
Domestic

Site Type: Broad:
Dwelling

Site Type: Specific:
House

General Period:
Early Modern

Specific Period:
C19

Form of Evidence:
Extant Building

Description:
Large house, 1854-7 by A.B. Higham of Newcastle for Isaac Lowthian Bell, Washington chemical manufacturer. Additions of 1865-7 by Philip Webb. Red brick; ashlar and terracotta quoins and dressings. Welsh slate roof. Tall brick chimneys. Free Tudor style. Complicated plan with long domestic wings. Two storeys and attics. Interior has some original fittings but has lost the Turkish bath installed by Webb. This was the birthplace of Gertrude Bell, explorer and Middle Eastern expert. In 1891 Bell donated the house for housing "waifs and strays". It subsequently became the residential Washington Hall School, then a nursing home, now apartments [2003]. Shown as Washington House on 1st edition Ordnance Survey map and Dame Margaret's Home on second and third editions. LISTED GRADE 2

Easting:
3109

Northing:
5636

Grid Reference:
NZ31095636

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 5667 >> Dept. of National Heritage, of Buildings of Special ... Interest, Feb-75 The Archaeological Practice, 2001, Dame Margaret's Hall, Washington, Archaeological Assessment The Archaeological Practice, 2002, Dame Margaret's Hall, Washington, Watching Brief Report N. Pevsner & E. Williamson, 1985, The Buildings of England: County Durham, p 488 Whelan, 1894, p 1170; City of Sunderland, 2009, Washington Village Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Strategy