Nunnykirk Hall

Coordinates: 55°13′41″N 1°52′19″W / 55.228°N 1.872°W / 55.228; -1.872

Nunnykirk Hall
Nunnykirk Hall  Nunnykirk Hall shown within Northumberland
OS grid reference	NZ082926
List of places: UK • England • Northumberland

Nunnykirk Hall is a 19th century country house and Grade I listed building at Nunnykirk, near Netherwitton, Northumberland, which is now a school.

History

In 1536 the Nunnykirk estate, including a tower, was owned by the abbots of Newminster Abbey but fell to the Crown on the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 1610 it was granted by the Crown to Sir Ralph Grey. Grey later sold it to the Ward family of Morpeth who built a manor house.

In 1771 Ann Ward, the heiress of the Nunnykirk estate married William Orde, (the half brother of Admiral Sir John Orde). Their son William Orde, Jr. (1774–1843) rebuilt the house in a grand style designed by architect John Dobson in 1825.

William Orde, Jr. established a racing stud at Nunnykirk and both he and his nephew and heir Charles William Orde (1810–1875) enjoyed considerable success as breeders. Their most successful horses were Beeswing, Nunnykirk (winner of the 2,000 Guineas), and Newminster (winner of the St. Leger 1851).

Since 1977, the house has been occupied by a special needs school, now known as Nunnykirk Centre for Dyslexia.

External links

• Nunnykirk Centre for Dyslexia - official web site