Welcome inside Seaton Delaval Hall
Early this year I first shared Northumberland’s Seaton Delaval Hall with you. At that time it was wholely encased in scaffolding and a woeful sight. I breathed a huge sigh of delighted relief to find it standing proud and unencumbered on my return this Summer.
Last week we had a wander in the beautiful gardens and I promised a look inside. I didn’t know then the theme of this week’s Thursday’s Special. My sun beaming in is as close as I get to the ‘gold inside’, but I hope you will join me anyway.
Let’s take a look. So much has been accomplished!
And then we step inside. The height of the hall is no longer a surprise to me but, looking up, I’m happy to see the Muses restored to their lofty niches. Sunlight illuminates the silent figures.
Solemn, and missing a limb or two
The conservation team have done an amazing job. The 30 foot high Central Hall was gutted by fire and left open to the elements for many years. Even in its fragile state there was a grace and a majesty to the building. The team have lifted and relaid the tiled marble floor, and the stucco statues have been strengthened, repaired and returned to their original niches.
The six statues represent the muses of sculpture, painting, architecture, astronomy, geography and music. Apparently they were made in situ, from an iron framework covered in tile, brick and plaster to produce a mannequin. Muslin beneath layers of stucco plaster created a very realistic appearance. Conservation enthusiasts might enjoy the Hall’s blog.
Mounting the West Staircase, I look out at the gardens
And down the elliptical stairwell
Finding myself up close and personal with the muses
It seems that the Hall was always graceful and beautiful
As it is again, today!
It was a glorious day and I strolled the gardens, and then was about to head for the tea rooms when I spied an open door, off the courtyard. I hadn’t noticed it before and curiosity impelled me inside. Be prepared for some serious treasure. I wasn’t!
Click on a photo to view in more detail
The Fairfax Jewel
The treasures never end!
The Delavals were great collectors and the evidence is everywhere. A complete treasure trove! Much of the history of the Hall is on my previous post, and you will find additional details (including how to get there) on this National Trust link to Seaton Delaval Hall.
I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit and hope that you did too. If you ask nicely you can have oozy cream on your hot chocolate fudge cake in the tea rooms. Very nice! Now I need to take you to Paula’s place for her interpretation of the gold inside. It’s beautiful- of course!
restlessjo 
Pure gold, a lovely visit with you Jo, thank you 🙂
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Thanks sweetheart! 🙂 This is another of those ‘when push comes to shove’ weeks when I’m wondering how the heck I’m going to get around everybody but I promise I’ll return your visit soon. 🙂
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🙂
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I did whizz through here on Saturday, Jo, which was not to do it justice in any shape or form. That Central Hall is awe-inspiring. And the spiral staircase, and the art collection. Seeing the gutted hall without its floors is both fascinating and disturbing. It’s like a metaphor for looking back in time. But it’s wonderful that so much could be restored. That floor!
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I know you did, Tish! Whenever I do this it backfires on me so I shall stoppit! 🙂 Paula was referring to the walled garden on 6WS and I should either have sent you the link or kept my gob shut! Not good at that. Sorry for wasting your time but your company is always a pleasure. Thank you 🙂
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You didn’t waste my time, Jo. It’s always a pleasure to visit your posts.
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What a magnificent job they’ve done on restoring Seaton Delaval Hall Jo – I’ve loved doing this tour with you. The staircase and treasures are so beautiful and I love the stylish gardens too. I popped over to the Hall’s blog site and signed up as I find all this sort of stuff fascinating. It’s great when they restore old buildings rather than letting them go to rack and ruin or worse still demolishing them. Thank goodness for the National Trust! 🙂
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I knew you’d approve, Rosemay! They were a heartbreak in their previous condition. 🙂
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Yes right up my street Jo! So good to see this sort of work being carried out 🙂 Am adding this to my list of places to visit – if only I had more time but with family members to visit we often haven’t got time for much else when we’re over. Have tentative plans for April/May time next year – looks like Mlle is staying on in London though she’s planning to make the trip back to Perth for Christmas!
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I love walking round these beautiful stately homes with you Jo. They’ve done a grand job of the restoration. Loved the peep down into the garden.
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Those plants are getting a darn good soaking today, Pauline! 🙂 We’re supposed to be doing a riverside walk with our group tomorrow but I suspect it’ll be cancelled, or like a swamp!
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Still without the rain the plants won’t grow. But it does need to be in moderation. Hope “we” get to do the walk
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A great tour and such a wonderful detour. I always like that we end up in a tearoom!
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That chocolate fudge cake really was superb! 🙂
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This is magnificent, Jo!
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Isn’t it a fabulous house, Dina? It would fit all of us bloggers in, just about! 🙂
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Wow, Jo! This breathtaking at every turn. I love the spiral staircase. Something about it is so enchanting. I can imagine all of the people who have descended it so graciously over the years.
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Not slid down the banister, Jackie? 🙂 No, I don ‘t think that looks very practical either, but Sue wanted to. Us more graceful types wouldn’t dream of it 🙂
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Ooh Jo I love the sculpture on the ladder, the Chinese lacquered cupboards and the garden is beautiful of course. The stone of the building is dark and mysterious!
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I’m not normally fond of that type of stone in a building, Gilly, but this one can carry it off. You’d have had such fun there! This is just a tiny fraction 🙂
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Oh you tease!
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What a wonderful place! I loved the muses (very grand) and the figure on the ladder. I’ve never been there, must rectify that if I’m ever back in the NE.
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It’s always had a lovely garden, Anabel, but the restoration has been a major undertaking. They’ve done a beautiful job 🙂
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Lovely tour – hope to see it in person one day! Was the roof restored? Thank you!
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Yes, there’s a timber framed roof up. Half of the battle was getting it weatherproof. I think you’d like it Noelle. 🙂
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I know I would!
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And i thought I had a big job restoring the RUC – this is absolutely fantastic. I just love those treasures (the ladder is awesome!) 😀
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Not sure I could quite achieve that position on a ladder personally, Dianne, but it makes a great sculpture. 🙂
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I loved the revisit. Perfect for this challenge. So many wonderful images, but the 1st, 10th, and 12th were exceptional. Truly works of art!
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Thanks very much, Lisa! Could any surroundings be more different from your current one? (well, perhaps a desert?) I enjoyed showing you around. 🙂
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Such marvellous treasures, Jo! That’s a really neat trick on the ladder. Wish I could do that. 🙂 Love the staircase and those outside pillars. How very grandiose! A wonderful restoration indeed.
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Maids in frilly pinnies behind every china cabinet! Very nice, though 🙂 (I bet you could, with encouragement 🙂 )
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It’s an amazing place! Thank you for let us know this hall by your photos. Love, Noelia.
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It was a pleasure to be there and be able to share this, Noelia. Thank you so much for your company. 🙂
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I always enjoy walking with you ! The photo of the stairwell is stunning and it leads me to a path of peace this morning dear Jo of which I am so grateful …hugs , and love , megxxx
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Thank you, Meg! The whole house has a wonderful aura. It would inspire you, for sure. Hugs back to you 🙂
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What an amazing place! I’d love to live in a home with an entrance hall like that. Obviously this is my imaginary world where there would also be an army of cleaning staff!
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It’s fantasy land, isn’t it, Tanya? Imagine the parties we could have! 🙂
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Truly fascinating when restoration to historical building comes to succeed! Bravo and wonderful images, Jo!
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Thanks a lot, Indah! 🙂 They’ve really done a tremendous job and I loved my visit there.
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Beautiful, Jo. Love that floor! And everything else. too!
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It’s an amazing place! Glad you like it 🙂
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A wonderful restoration Jo. Lovely images and perhaps we can slide down that spiral staircase?
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Naughty! I wouldn’t think of it! Hard landings, I should think 😦
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You be the look out. I will give it a go. 🙂
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They have made a good job of that Jo!
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I think so too, Andrew 🙂
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