Heritage preserved: 19th Century hall restored to its former splendour

As property projects go, this one could be considered the ultimate doer-upper.

Sockburn Hall is a Grade II* listed building at the southernmost point of the Borough of Darlington, overlooking the River Tees.

The Hall was constructed in 1834 for Henry Collingwood Blackett in an ornate neo-Jacobean style using local sandstone. The main building comprises a square block of two storeys, surrounding a central hall and staircase, with the kitchens and service wing extending to the north.

The hall has been on the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register since 1998. Having been left unoccupied for many years, it suffered from a lack of regular maintenance and fell into a state of disrepair.

Historic England and Darlington Borough Council worked with the family who previously owned the building to explore options for the repair and re-use of the building. However, they were unable to find the right solution. Consequently, Sockburn Hall was put on the market in 2015 and sold to a new owner.

The change of ownership enabled the hall to undergo extensive repairs. The new owner has worked with Historic England and Darlington Borough Council to transform the hall back into a family home, leading to its removal from the Heritage at Risk Register.

Rosalind Kain, Darlington Borough Council’s Historic Assets Officer, who worked with the owner, his architect and other specialist contractors on the restoration of the property, said: “For decades, a lack of investment in repairs and upkeep had unfortunately seen Sockburn Hall fall into a very poor state of repair.

“The feasibility of alternative uses for the property and urgent structural repairs were funded by Historic England to allow the property to be put on the market. Fortunately, when it was sold in December 2015, the new owner bought it to restore the 1834 former hunting lodge to a substantial family home.

“We have had a lot of productive discussions with the owner, his architect and specialist contractors about conservative repair methods, traditional materials and agreed to limited alterations to restore the Grade II* listed property.

“A number of Listed Building Consent applications were approved by the Council to ensure the property was completely restored externally and internally. It is now back to the grandeur it had when it was first built and is a cherished and unique family home.

“This is one of Darlington’s most significant heritage assets, it’s very satisfying to see it lived in again and restored to its original splendour.”

The Council nominated the project for a Historic England award due to the passion and perseverance of those involved. Although not shortlisted, the project will receive a certificate of recognition as a reflection of the quality of the application.