Cheeseburn Grange
Art Ponteland Northumberland

Cheeseburn

Art In Ponteland, Northumberland

A sculpture park and art exhibition space set within the grounds of Cheeseburn Grange, near Ponteland.

Cheeseburn Grange has a rich and diverse history. It was originally the Grange, or farm, of the Augustinian Priory in Hexham. It had been granted to the Priory by John de Normanville in 1297. At the dissolution of the monasteries in 1536, Cheeseburn Grange came into the possession of the Crown and was leased to Gawen Swinburne. It passed to his widow, Margaret Lawson and then to her daughter who married Lewis Widdrington. Their son Thomas inherited the freehold in 1631. Upon his death in 1664 his brother Henry inherited. It remained in the Widdrington family until 1752, when Ralph Widdrington died without issue and Cheeseburn was passed to the Riddell family, who still live there today with their children.

Extensive remodelling was planned by Ralph Riddell Esq who commissioned John Dobson (the famous architect responsible for the magnificent Newcastle Central Station) in 1820 to extend and remodel the hall. Not all his plans were carried out but the main entrance was moved to the west, the tower over the front door was created, the parapets were built and the present chapel constructed. The altar was built by Joseph Hansom in 1860. Above the altar the oil painting “The Descent of Our Saviour from the Cross” was painted in 1824 by the Flemish artist J.S. Verillin. It a copy of the centre panel of Rubens triptych which is in Antwerp Cathedral. Dobson preserved the beautiful 18th century pillared stone doorway which he positioned in the garden and can still be seen today. In 1860 Hansom added a Gothic East Wing, demolished in 1973.

During the Second World War the house was occupied by St. Vincent's Orphanage. Simon and Joanna Riddell have lived at Cheeseburn since 1992, inheriting the house from Simon's bachelor uncle, Philip Riddell.

In 1992, the owners set about restoring the house and gardens, which had fallen into disrepair. Set in eleven acres of gardens surrounded by parks of grazing sheep, the garden was essentially a “gentleman's” garden, a formal layout with a great deal of holly and yew trees. The house was exposed with sweeping lawns around it, and there were no obvious boundaries to the east of the house. Much of the garden was left and cut for hay right up to the house walls. An old orchard occupied much of the east side, and there were no flower borders. A number of years' work saw the creation of garden spaces, parterres, herbaceous borders and a walled garden.

Since 2014, Cheeseburn Grange has become a “showcase for sculpture, design and art, where the public can encounter new and established work in the setting of the historic house and gardens”. The exhibitions are driven by Joanna Riddell and curated by Matthew Jarratt and are only open to the public on selected weekends during the summer so you need to book up in advance in order to secure your ticket. Sadly Cheeseburn is taking a break for 2022 but will hopefully be back, bigger and even better in 2023, believe me, it is worth the wait!

  Add To Bucket List   I Have Visited This Place

Get 2 points if you have visited this place. Already visited by 27 VIPs.

Login to the VIP area to add places to your bucket list, mark them as visited and more importantly see where you rank on the league table.

How To Find Cheeseburn Grange

Where Is Cheeseburn Grange?

Show Place On Google Maps

Lat / Long

55.035562, -1.855084

What three words

afterglow.ballroom.tracks

Where To Park For Cheeseburn Grange?

Show Parking On Google Maps

Lat / Long

55.036155, 55.036155

What three words

warms.calls.football

Parking can be found in the grounds of Cheeseburn Grange.

Contributed by Andrew Gardner

I love being outdoors, in nature, and experiencing the relaxation it brings. Wandering through the northern countryside seeing unexpected buildings, historic places and occasionally surprised wildlife is one of life's great pleasures.

More Places from Andrew
Andrew Gardner

More Places In Ponteland

Find more fabulous places in Ponteland, Northumberland and if you know of a place we haven't listed, then let us know.

Higham Dykes Trig Point
Higham Dykes Trig Point
Trig Point Ponteland Northumberland

This is the trig point for Higham Dykes (93m) near Ponteland.

Kirkley Obelisk
Kirkley Obelisk
Obelisk Ponteland Northumberland

An obelisk marking the centenary of the Glorious Revolution by William the Orange.

Ponteland Vicar's Pele
Ponteland Vicar's Pele
Tower Ponteland Northumberland

A ruined Vicar's Pele sitting on the main high street in Ponteland.

More Art

So this art wasn't enough and you want more? Don't worry we have you covered.

Forth Lane Gallery
Forth Lane Gallery
Art Newcastle City Centre Tyne And Wear

An urban gallery displaying the work of 6 artists based on the history of the area.

Stonehaugh Totem Poles
Stonehaugh Totem Poles
Art Stonehaugh Northumberland

Totem poles have stood in the village of Stonehaugh since 1971 and these three are the latest carvings.

Redesdale Goat
Redesdale Goat
Art Catcleugh Northumberland

A sculpture at the source of the River Rede of a feral Northumberland goat, living its leaping life just above the peeping eye of Catcleugh Reservoir.

Never Miss A Fabulous Place

If you are afraid of missing out on all the fabulous places we post, or just want to be the first to know, then sign up to the Fabulous North.

Each week we will email you all the brand new places that we visit.

Sign Up To Alerts
Sign up to newsletter
Fabulous North On Facebook

Find Us On Facebook

We post all our new places daily on our Facebook Groups page, so join the group today and be notified when we add a new place.

Join Our Facebook Group

Cheeseburn Grange was listed in Art // Northumberland // Ponteland