Shawdon Hall

Shawdon Hall is a privately owned 18th century country house at Hedgeley, near Alnwick, Northumberland (gbmapping|NU09261432). It is a Grade II* listed building [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=236590&mode=quick Images of England:Shawdon Hall] ] .

The manor of Shawdon was owned by Thomas Lilburn in the 15th century [http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/2614.html Gatehouse Gazetteer] ] . A survey of 1541 disclosed a 'tower in measurable good reparation' in the ownership of Cuthbert Proctor.

John Proctor sold the estate in 1705 [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=14854&strquery=shawdon "Journal of the House of Lords, Vol 17" 1705 pp664-5 from British History Online] ] .

The new owner William Hargrave demolished the old house and replaced it in 1779 with a new mansion, probably designed by architect William Newton [http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N3238 Keys to the Past] ] .

The house is two storyed with a seven bay entrance front, the central three bays being pilastered and with a pediment bearing the 1817 arms of Pawson

Following the death in 1817 of William Hargrave (High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1783) the 1050 acre estate passed by the marriage of the Hargrave heiress to John Pawson [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51266&strquery=shawdon "A Topographical Dictionary of England" 1848 William Whellan pp56-8 from British History Online] ] . Later Pawsons to serve as High Sheriff were William in 1826 and William John in 1861.

Important historical artifacts have been found on the Shawdon Hall estate. In 1761 two Roman urns containing human remains were unearthed and in 1828 gold coins including a rare Rose noble from the time of Edward I were found ["A History Topography and Directory of Northumberland" 1855 William Whellan p667 from Google Books]

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