Hurworth Grange Community Centre
Encyclopedia
Built in 1875, Hurworth Grange Community Centre in the village of Hurworth-on-Tees
, Durham
, England
, has had a long and varied history, from private residence of a wealthy Quaker banking family to its modern-day use as a well-loved community centre.
by Alfred Waterhouse
, commissioned by Alfred Backhouse as a wedding gift for his nephew, James Edward Backhouse. The building is a large brick
Victorian mansion that at one time boasted of a lovely rock garden created by the famous Backhouse nursery of Yorkshire.
Over the years the house changed hands, being used as a residence by the Rogerson family and then later the Spielman family. During World War II
Jewish refugees were housed at Hurworth Grange and a military installation was set up in its grounds. In 1956 Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
purchased Hurworth Grange to use as a Juniorate School. In 1967 the Juniorate School was closed and Hurworth Grange was purchased by the local Parish Council for use as a community centre.
activity occurring. In early 2005 Anomalous Phenomena Investigations (API), of Newcastle upon Tyne
, Tyne and Wear
, England
, run by founders Colin & Cindy Nunn and Chris & Jo Carnegie, were granted exclusive
privileges to investigate the alleged hauntings. In August 2006 the BBC North East and Cumbria
crew filmed the team conducting an investigation at Hurworth Grange. The show aired on 30 October 2006 and was presented by Anna Nolan
. API continues to conduct regular investigations at Hurworth Grange, with future plans to publish a book about their findings.
Hurworth-on-Tees
Hurworth-on-Tees is a village in the borough of Darlington, within the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated to the south of Darlington, next to the meeting point of the River Skerne and River Tees.-Amenities:...
, Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, has had a long and varied history, from private residence of a wealthy Quaker banking family to its modern-day use as a well-loved community centre.
History
Hurworth Grange was constructed in Hurworth-on-TeesHurworth-on-Tees
Hurworth-on-Tees is a village in the borough of Darlington, within the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It is situated to the south of Darlington, next to the meeting point of the River Skerne and River Tees.-Amenities:...
by Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse
Alfred Waterhouse was a British architect, particularly associated with the Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. He is perhaps best known for his design for the Natural History Museum in London, and Manchester Town Hall, although he also built a wide variety of other buildings throughout the...
, commissioned by Alfred Backhouse as a wedding gift for his nephew, James Edward Backhouse. The building is a large brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
Victorian mansion that at one time boasted of a lovely rock garden created by the famous Backhouse nursery of Yorkshire.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Jewish refugees were housed at Hurworth Grange and a military installation was set up in its grounds. In 1956 Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God
The Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God are a Roman Catholic order founded in 1572. They are also known commonly as the Fatebenefratelli, meaning "Do-Good Brothers" in Italian.-History:...
purchased Hurworth Grange to use as a Juniorate School. In 1967 the Juniorate School was closed and Hurworth Grange was purchased by the local Parish Council for use as a community centre.
Hauntings
Regular patrons of the Hurworth Grange Community Centre have reported various types of paranormalParanormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
activity occurring. In early 2005 Anomalous Phenomena Investigations (API), of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, run by founders Colin & Cindy Nunn and Chris & Jo Carnegie, were granted exclusive
Exclusive
Exclusive typically means not with other things or not including other things.The terms inclusive and exclusive are contrasting terms, and often appear in the same context to describe contrasting things.Exclusive may refer to:...
privileges to investigate the alleged hauntings. In August 2006 the BBC North East and Cumbria
BBC North East and Cumbria
BBC North East and Cumbria is the BBC English Region covering Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, North Yorkshire, Teesside and all but the southern part of Cumbria...
crew filmed the team conducting an investigation at Hurworth Grange. The show aired on 30 October 2006 and was presented by Anna Nolan
Anna Nolan
Anna Nolan is an Irish television presenter, producer and former business manager, waitress and Irish international basketball player. She has presented numerous television programmes in Ireland and the UK...
. API continues to conduct regular investigations at Hurworth Grange, with future plans to publish a book about their findings.