Hebburn Hall

Has been described as a Possible Pele Tower

There are no visible remains

NameHebburn Hall
Alternative NamesEllison Hall; Jarrow
Historic CountryDurham
Modern AuthoritySouth Tyneside
1974 AuthorityTyne and Wear
Civil ParishHebburn

The present Hebburn Hall dates to the 17th century with late 18th and 19th century alterations. Its predecessor, according to Surtees writing in 1820, was an "old mansion house...built with some view to defence, trenching on the Castle like the Border towers". It was later reported that "the builder of the mansion took down the old tower (with the exception of one length of massive walling 4.5 feet thick), as well as the Elizabethan additions that had been made to it, and used up the materials in the new edifice. Some of the mullions and sills of the narrow windows of the tower were found in the walls when the recent transformations were made". The house was further altered in the 1880s when the Ellisons finally left. Though part of the house is said to survive at the west end, in what became a vicarage, the evidence for its early appearance is circumstantial. A site visit in November 2001 during restoration work to Hebburn Hall revealed three stone corbels which had previously been hidden under a suspended ceiling. The thick stone wall mentioned above was also identified. Though these undoubtably belong to the medieval building, further research will be required to ascertain exactly which part of the building they represent. The corbels presumably supported a parapet. (Tyne and Wear HER)

The old mansion-house was built with some view to defence, trenching on the castle like the Border towers. Whether it was this military and predatory aspect, which naturally reminded the citizens of the horrors of the Border war, or the imposing situation of Hebburne on the Tyne, or, rather, the popish tenets of its owners, the place seems to have been from the dissolution till the civil wars (during the possession of the Hodgsons) the frequent object of jealousy and suspicion to the peaceful burghers of Newcastle. (Surtees)

Gatehouse Comments

King writes of Jarrow 'There may have been a castle here.' King gives as a reference "Hebburn" with no other details. It seems fairly clear King took this reference from Surtees.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceNZ311641
Latitude54.9710693359375
Longitude-1.51537001132965
Eastings431115
Northings564160
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

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Books

  • Corfe, Tom (ed), 1992, 'The Visible Middle Ages' in An Historical Atlas of County Durham p. 28-9
  • Pevsner, N., 1983 (Revised by Williamson, Elizabeth), Buildings of England: Durham (London, Penguin) p. 320-1
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 139 (possible)
  • Surtees, R., 1820, The History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham Vol. 2 online transcription

Journals

  • 1890 Jan, 'Hebburn Hall' The Monthly Chronicle of North Country Lore and Legend p. 42-3 online copy

Other

  • Simpson & Brown and South Tyneside Council, 2007, Hebburn Hall Conservation Area - First draft Character Appraisal
  • R. Hewitt, Tyne and Wear Museums, 2004, Hebburn Hall, Hebburn - Archaeological Building Recording