| Title: |
The West Wing Service Court, Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland, Archaeological Monitoring |
| Series: |
Northern Archaeological Associates unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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northern1-504270_186579.pdf (3 MB)
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Download
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| Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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| DOI |
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| Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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| Abstract: |
This forms part of a package of works which were conducted as part of 'The Curtain Rises' project, a two year restoration and representation scheme at Seaton Delaval Hall, part-funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund. It incorporated mitigation and monitoring works which included targeted building recording, watching briefs, and small area excavations. This phase of recording included investigations linked to the main Hall structure as well as the potting shed, the brewhouse and the carriage house.
The building known as the ‘Potting Shed’ is located on the south-west side of the 18thcentury complex and forms the south side of the west court (also known as the kitchen court). It is separated by a narrow passage from the south-west extension of the West Wing, and abuts the north wall of the rose garden. It is a single-storey structure, divided internally into four rooms, which originally incorporated an upper hayloft running the full length of the building. The building has undergone several phases of modification. Its alignment is very different from the main 18th-century Hall complex, closely correlating with that of the Brewhouse bastion wall, the Great West Avenue and the lost village of Seaton; all elements associated with the pre-Vanbrugh estate. The redbrick south (rear) wall of the Potting Shed is the oldest part of the building and probably dates to this period; possibly constructed in the late 16th or early 17th century as part of the expansion of the Jacobean manor. The potting shed was also adapted to provide cattle accommodation comprising a byre and or a milking shed, with a possible loose box or calf-house.
The Brewhouse is located to the north-east of Seaton Delaval Hall. The complex includes a rare example of a 17th-century multi-use agricultural building, forming part of the manorial complex preceding the present Vanbrugh-designed hall. The building was later repurposed in the mid-18th century as a brewhouse and coach house, which included the addition of a decorative north-facing red brick facade. In the 19th century, continuing into the 20th century, the premises were used by a commercial market-garden operation based in the former walled garden.
The West Wing Service Court, (also known as the kitchen court), is an enclosed courtyard adjoining the west wing of the Hall. It is a gravel courtyard and dates to the construction of the hall in the early 18th century. Archaeological monitoring revealed that the natural slope of the area had been reduced through the use of a mix if ash, coal dust and cinders.
Archaeological investigations were also undertaken during conservation works within the main Hall complex at Seaton Delaval. No in-situ evidence pre-dating the construction of the 18th-century Hall was identified, although a considerable amount of reused building material was found, that was likely associated with earlier buildings on the site. The earliest of these was a masonry block with mason's mark which may have come from the former medieval tower. Extensive evidence was also found material associated with the Tudor/Stuart mansion pre-dating Vanbrugh's 18th-century Hall. The archaeological work also provided a much greater understanding of the 18th-century construction process. Evidence for damage from a fire in 1752 was also identified within the roof structure. Graffitti has also been recorded within the Hall. The dismantling of stall dividers within the central stables confirmed that these were a later addition, lending support to the theory that the double height room was originally built as a riding house.
Archaeological monitoring was also undertaken during works within the carriage house. The carriage house adjoins the north-east side of the east wing of Seaton Delaval Hall and forms the north side of the associated stable yard. |
| Author: |
Penny Middleton
Andrew Durkin
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| Publisher: |
Northern Archaeological Associates
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| Year of Publication: |
2021
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| Locations: |
| District: |
Northumberland |
| Parish: |
Seaton Valley |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Northumberland |
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Grid Reference: 432224, 576569 (Easting, Northing)
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
northern1-504270 |
| Report id: |
20/105 |
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| Note: |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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| Created Date: |
23 Aug 2022 |
