Kirkharle Hall Explained

Kirkharle Hall
Location:Northumberland, England, UK
Pushpin Map:United Kingdom Northumberland
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Northumberland
Grid Name:OS grid

Kirkharle Hall was a country house at Kirkharle, Northumberland, England, the former seat of the Loraine family, now much reduced and in use as a farmhouse. The Hall is in the upper reaches of the Wansbeck valley; almost adjacent to the A696 road; 12miles west of Morpeth; and 2miles southeast of Kirkwhelpington.

History

Kirkharle name was first recorded, as Herle in 1177,[1] and derives either from the Old English "Herela-lea" which means "Herela's Grove" or from the Old English "herg-lea" which means "temple-grove" a place of worship for the pre-Christian Angles.[2] Other early forms included Kyrkeherle (c.1250), Kyrkherll (1346) and Kirkehirle (1428),[1] the "kirk" element denoting a "church."[2] The Loraine Baronets acquired the manor by marriage from the De Harles, who owned it in the 14th century,[3] and derived their name (literally "of Harle") from the village.[4] Following its sale to a local farmer in the early 19th century the Hall was largely demolished. Only one wing was retained which was rebuilt as a farmhouse. It is a Grade II listed building.[5]

Nearby stands a memorial stone erected in 1728 to replace an earlier memorial commemorating Robert Loraine who was killed by marauding Scots in 1483.[6]

Among the quaint epitaphs in the church upon departed Loraines is the following:Here lyes the Body of Richard Loraine, Esq., who was a proper handsome man of good sense and behaviour : he dy'd a Batcheler of an Appoplexy walking in a green field near London, October 26th, 1738, in the 38 Year of his Age.

The surrounding parkland was designed in the 18th century by Capability Brown who was born at Kirkharle and who began his career as a gardener in the park. The park is a Registered Historic Park Grade II.[7]

The present owner has redeveloped the farm and its outbuildings to create Kirkharle Courtyard, a development incorporating historical, retail and craft centres.[8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. The Place-names of Northumberland and Durham, Cambridge University Press, pp. 128
  2. Beckensall, Stan. 'Northumbrian Place-Names: A Guide To The Meaning of Town And Village Names'. Butler Publishing 2004. . Page 37
  3. Book: Hugill , Robert . Robert Hugill (travel writer)

    . Robert Hugill (travel writer). Road Guide to Northumberland and The Border. Andrew Reid & Company, Limited. 1931. Newcastle upon Tyne, England. 157–8.

  4. The surnames of Scotland: their origin, meaning, and history, George Fraser Black, New York Public Library, 1946, P.344
  5. https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1044913&resourceID=5 Heritage Gateway: architectural description of Kirkharle farmhouse
  6. https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=1155480&resourceID=5 Heritage Gateway: description of inscription on Kirkharle memorial stone
  7. Web site: Keys to the Past: Kirkharle Hall landscape park . 2009-04-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222042551/http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N10507 . 2012-02-22 . dead .
  8. Web site: Kirkharle Courtyard . 2024-05-13 . Kirkharle Courtyard . en-GB.