History of Longhirst

The Lawsons, a prominent and wealthy Northumbrian family, commissioned the famous architect John Dobson to design a family country house in the village of Longhirst, Northumberland.

Longhirst Hall was one of Dobson’s earliest country houses and it is typical of his classical style inspired by the buildings of ancient Greece. Dobson also designed the winding drive, trees, gardens, lakes and grounds, which all blend harmoniously into the Northumberland landscape.

The foundation stone of the Hall was laid in 1824 and the Hall was completed in 1828. By 1887 the Longhirst estate consisted of 4000 acres, two villages, 13 farms and a coalmine, all of which were sold that year to a local businessman James Joicey, who was later to become a Baron, a Member of Parliament and was ultimately to receive a Peerage.

Joicey and his family lived at the Hall until 1936. After this time the Hall’s future became uncertain, being requisitioned by the Army in World War II and then being used as an Approved School for children and then a community home for children.

The Hall was eventually closed in 1982 and was slipping into decay until 1992 when it was it restored to its former glory and converted into the first class hotel, training and conference centre it is today.