Annie's Guest House Blog

Next weekend (Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April 2013) several north east National Trust properties can be visited for free upon production of the voucher below. The free weekend offer is national but not all National Trust properties are participating in the free weekend offer. The properties near to us where the voucher is accepted are…

Cherryburn, Station Bank, Stocksfield, NE43 7DD.
Cottage and farmhouse, the birthplace of Thomas Bewick. Thomas Bewick is perhaps Northumberland’s greatest artist: a wood engraver and naturalist who revolutionised print art in Georgian England. Discover his tiny birthplace cottage and farmyard with glorious views over the Tyne Valley, plus a traditional 19th-century farmhouse, the later home of the Bewick family, with an unrivalled collection of his work and an exhibition about his life. Follow Bewick’s wood blocks on their journey to the print room, where regular Sunday afternoon demonstrations bring alive this intricate craft, or explore the delightful cottage gardens, farmyard and paddock walk, perfect for picnicking or playing with the kids. Full property information: Cherryburn, Stocksfield, NE43 7DD.

Cragside, Rothbury, Morpeth, NE65 7PX.
Extraordinary Victorian house, gardens and woodland – the wonder of its age. Enter the world of Lord Armstrong – Victorian inventor, innovator and landscape genius. Cragside house was truly a wonder of its age. Discover the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. It is crammed full of ingenious gadgets – most of them still working. The gardens are incredible. One of the largest rock gardens in Europe leads down to the Iron Bridge, which in turn leads to the formal garden. Children will love our adventure play area and exploring Nelly’s Labyrinth, a network of paths and tunnels cut out of a vast area of rhododendron forest. Full property information: Cragside, Rothbury, Morpeth, NE65 7PX.

George Stephensons Birthplace, Wylam, NE41 8BP.
Birthplace of the world-famous railway engineer. Discover the humble birthplace of great railway pioneer, George Stephenson, whose entire family lived in just one room. Our costumed guide tells the story of how challenging life was for mining families, like George’s, that once crammed into this now charming little stone cottage, nestled in a pretty garden near the river Tyne. Full property information: George Stephensons Birthplace, Wylam, NE41 8BP.

Gibside, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, NE16 6BG.
Stunning 18th-century landscape garden and haven for nature. A taste of the country on the edge of the city. Discover fine Derwent Valley views, winding paths and refreshing open spaces while exploring our elegant buildings and ruins. Gibside is a Georgian ‘grand design’ on a spectacular scale. The vision of coal baron George Bowes, the Palladian chapel is an architectural masterpiece, the stable block is a vibrant learning and discovery centre, and the once grand hall is now a dramatic shell. Gibside is also a haven for wildlife with red kites often circling in the skies above. After centuries of decline, we’re restoring Gibside for people and nature. Come for events every weekend, escape along the avenue for miles of tranquil walks and picnic spots or enjoy family fun at our adventure play area and woodland play trail. Food also runs through Gibside’s veins, whether in our bustling walled garden, cafe, local farm shop or twice monthly farmers’ market. Full property information: Gibside, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, NE16 6BG.

Holy Jesus Hospital, City Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2AS.
An extraordinary mix of architecture from over seven centuries. The Holy Jesus Hospital survives amid 1960s city-centre developments, displaying features from all periods of its 700-year existence. The National Trust’s Inner City Project is now based here, working to provide opportunities for inner-city dwellers to gain access to and enjoy the countryside on their doorstep. Full property information: Holy Jesus Hospital, City Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2AS.

Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2SH.
Romantic 16th-century castle with spectacular views. Location has always been the main attraction for the owners and occupiers of Lindisfarne Castle. From a former fort to the holiday home of a wealthy Edwardian bachelor seeking a quiet retreat from London, the idyllic location of the Castle has intrigued and inspired for centuries. The renovation by Arts and Crafts architect Edwin Lutyens both hides and emphasises the old fort, all the while overlooking Gertrude Jekyll’s enchanting walled garden and the unexpected grandeur of the Lime Kilns, an imposing and striking reminder of Lindisfarne’s industrial past. Full property information: Lindisfarne Castle, Holy Island, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2SH.

Ormesby Hall, Ladgate Lane, near Middlesbrough, TS3 0SR.
The Pennyman family’s intimate 18th-century mansion. Home of the Pennyman family for nearly 400 years, this classic Georgian mansion, with its Victorian kitchen and laundry, attractive gardens and estate walks, provides lively resources for local schools and community groups, and a unique venue for wedding ceremonies and corporate events. Experience the spirit of the intimate home of Colonel Jim Pennyman, the last of the Pennyman line, and his arts-loving wife Ruth, as well as the stylish legacy of the 18th-century character ‘Wicked’ Sir James Pennyman – so named because of his extravagant lifestyle and his gambling with the family fortune. Full property information: Ormesby Hall, Ladgate Lane, near Middlesbrough, TS3 0SR.

Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Coast Road, Sunderland, SR6 7NH.
A marvel of its age. Souter is a special place all year round and was the first lighthouse in the world designed and built to be powered by electricity. Opened in 1871, decommissioned in 1988, the National Trust acquired it and opened it to the public in 1990. Souter remains an iconic beacon, hooped in red and white and standing proud on the coastline midway between the Tyne and the Wear. The Leas is a two and a half mile stretch of magnesian limestone cliffs, wave-cut foreshore and coastal grassland. The cliffs and rock stacks of Marsden Bay are home to nesting Kittiwakes, Fulmar, Cormorants, Shags and Guillemots. Full property information: Souter Lighthouse and The Leas, Coast Road, Sunderland, SR6 7NH.

Wallington, Cambo, near Morpeth, NE61 4AR.
Magnificent estate where politics and play came together in the heart of Northumberland. Discover Wallington, much-loved home to generations of the unconventional Trevelyan family. Visit the impressive, yet friendly house, and explore the history of Northumberland in the huge pre-Raphaelite paintings around the remarkable Central Hall. Be inspired by the beautiful furniture, family paintings and treasured collections. The Trevelyans loved being outdoors and close to nature and the house is surrounded by an informal landscape of lawns, lakes, woodland, parkland and farmland, just waiting to be explored. There is even a beautiful walled garden hidden in the woods, a colourful haven of tranquillity in all seasons. Full property information: Wallington, Cambo, near Morpeth, NE61 4AR.

Washington Old Hall, The Avenue, Washington, NE38 7LE.
Manor house associated with the family of George Washington, first president of the USA. At the heart of historic Washington village this picturesque stone manor house and its gardens provide a tranquil oasis, reflecting gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War. The building incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors, and it is from here that the family took their surname of ‘Washington’. Much used and loved by local schools and community groups, including a hugely supportive Friends organisation, the Old Hall is also popular with couples wanting intimate wedding ceremonies and companies organising corporate events. Full property information: Washington Old Hall, The Avenue, Washington, NE38 7LE.

Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, NE26 4QR.
More than a great house, it is a truly amazing place. Seaton Delaval Hall is a great house set in its own estate with lovely gardens and a fine collection; yet it is also much more. It is a signpost pointing to the diverse history of a family which acquired land here in the late 11th century. The house occupies the site of a Norman settlement, and its original Norman chapel remains in use today. Built between 1719 and 1730 for Admiral George Delaval, it is not only the finest house in the north east of England, but also among the finest works of its architect, Sir John Vanbrugh, one of the masters of English Baroque. For 900 years, the estate has been a stage for drama, intrigue and romance while the surrounding landscape has fuelled industrial revolution. The house has survived terrible fires, military occupation and potential ruin. Now it provides an amazing space for arts, heritage and the community to come together. Full property information: Seaton Delaval Hall, The Avenue, Seaton Sluice, NE26 4QR.

The voucher you need to print and take with you is below…