Lambton Castle

NORTH LODGE LAMBTON PARK NZ 25 SE 4/47 Lambton Castle 4/6/52 (previously included in the Civil Parish of Harraton) GV II*

Castellated country house. Circa 1820-8 by Ignatius Bonomi for John George Lambton; incorporating core of the C18 Harraton Hall; 1862-5 additions by Sidney Smirke (following a design by John Dobson) were largely demolished in 1932. Ashlar sandstone, Welsh slate roofs and stone chimney stacks. Complex U-plan with detached south-east tower. Perpendicular style (mainly 2-light windows under hoodmoulds).

South front by Bonomi. 2 linked blocks and detached east tower. 3-storey, 5-bay west block with tall octagonal stair tower at west, pointed lower and square-headed upper windows, corbelled round turret on second floor at east and embattled parapet. Set-back lower 3-storey, 6-bay east block, refronting of C18 core, has pointed 2-storey upper windows (with panels of blank tracery masking floor level), flying buttresses between bays and embattled parapet with crocketed pinnacles. Tall octagonal east tower with splayed base, staggered loops, corbelled-out embattled parapet and taller round stair turret (parapet removed). West return partly refaced after demolition of 1862 additions; 2-storey, 3-bay north section by Bonomi with linking bay and porte- cochere on north. Porte-coch<re, constructed 1932 from Smirke's north arcade, has 4 panelled octagonal turrets, 4-centred arches and embattled parapets. Complex north front: split-level east wing is fragment of 1862 service wing; 3-storey, 3-bay centre, refronting of C18 core, has 24-pane sashes on ground floor; projecting 1862 staircase addition at west. Low-pitched roofs and octagonal stacks mainly hidden by parapets.

Interior: central C18 core has one room with re-used early C18 panelling and 2 rooms on south side with Palladian plasterwork (enriched doorcases; one room with fireplace and broken-pedimented overmantel flanked by shell niches). Other large ground-floor rooms and staircase by Smirke in Tudor style (linenfold panelling, carved wood fireplaces and beamed ceilings).

The home of John George Lambton, later 1st. Earl of Durham, a noted radical statesman and co-author of the 1832 Reform Bill.

(Christopher Hussey, "Lambton Castle - Durham", Country Life Volume CXXXIX, 1966).

Listing NGR: NZ2982852570