Ellingham Hall, Northumberland
Encyclopedia
Ellingham Hall, Northumberland is an English country house
in the county of Northumberland
, in the civil parish
of Ellingham
.
The hall was built in the 17th century by Sir John Haggerston on the site of an earlier building. It was enlarged under the ownership of his successor, Edward Haggerston, but suffered severe damage in a fire that burned most of the East wing to the ground. The Haggerstons sheltered Catholic priests within secret tunnels and chambers during the persecutions of the Reformation
.
In the Second World War, the Ellingham estate was farmed by the Women's Land Army
who put the tennis courts into cultivation and used the reception rooms as a food storage centre. From 1955 to 1988 the hall was used a preparatory school
for boys aged 5 to 18. It was subsequently bought by property developers but a plan to convert the building into residential flats fell through, leaving the hall standing empty and vulnerable to vandalism and the elements. It was bought in 1995 by Helen and Aidan Ruff, who restored and renovated it to serve as a country house venue for holiday rental, parties, weddings and corporate events. The refurbished building was reopened in 2003. In May 2010, the chapel was gutted by fire.
In December 2010, Ellingham Hall found itself bombarded by calls after WikiLeaks
founder Julian Assange
was bailed to stay at its namesake, Ellingham Hall, Norfolk
. Owner Aidan Ruff told The Journal
newspaper: "We’re just trying to make an honest living, and deliver our brides and grooms the dream weddings they want. We’re not interested in bringing down governments or world domination."
English country house
The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed to them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country...
in the county of Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, in the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Ellingham
Ellingham, Northumberland
Ellingham is a civil parish in Northumberland, England.- External links :*...
.
The hall was built in the 17th century by Sir John Haggerston on the site of an earlier building. It was enlarged under the ownership of his successor, Edward Haggerston, but suffered severe damage in a fire that burned most of the East wing to the ground. The Haggerstons sheltered Catholic priests within secret tunnels and chambers during the persecutions of the Reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
.
In the Second World War, the Ellingham estate was farmed by the Women's Land Army
Women's Land Army
The Women's Land Army was a British civilian organisation created during the First and Second World Wars to work in agriculture replacing men called up to the military. Women who worked for the WLA were commonly known as Land Girls...
who put the tennis courts into cultivation and used the reception rooms as a food storage centre. From 1955 to 1988 the hall was used a preparatory school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
for boys aged 5 to 18. It was subsequently bought by property developers but a plan to convert the building into residential flats fell through, leaving the hall standing empty and vulnerable to vandalism and the elements. It was bought in 1995 by Helen and Aidan Ruff, who restored and renovated it to serve as a country house venue for holiday rental, parties, weddings and corporate events. The refurbished building was reopened in 2003. In May 2010, the chapel was gutted by fire.
In December 2010, Ellingham Hall found itself bombarded by calls after WikiLeaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
founder Julian Assange
Julian Assange
Julian Paul Assange is an Australian publisher, journalist, writer, computer programmer and Internet activist. He is the editor in chief of WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website and conduit for worldwide news leaks with the stated purpose of creating open governments.WikiLeaks has published material...
was bailed to stay at its namesake, Ellingham Hall, Norfolk
Ellingham Hall, Norfolk
-External links:* *...
. Owner Aidan Ruff told The Journal
The Journal (newspaper)
The Journal is a daily newspaper produced in Newcastle upon Tyne. Published by ncjMedia, , The Journal is produced every weekday and Saturday morning and is complemented by its sister publications the Evening Chronicle and the Sunday Sun.The newspaper mainly has a middle-class and professional...
newspaper: "We’re just trying to make an honest living, and deliver our brides and grooms the dream weddings they want. We’re not interested in bringing down governments or world domination."