Lady Waterford Hall

One of the most picturesque places for a mooch in Northumberland has to be Ford Village and next to Ford Castle is the quaint Lady Waterford Hall. Built in 1860 originally as a village school, this beautiful building has been repurposed as a hub for the community and is now a historic site and museum.

The first thing that strikes you when you enter the building are the huge life-size murals that adorn all of the walls. The images are in a Pre-Raphaelite style and they depict a variety of scenes from the bible, historical events, and also everyday life. The murals were actually diligently painted over 21 years by Lady Waterford herself, but who was she?

Lady Waterford also known as Louisa Anne Beresford was the Marchioness of Waterford, who was also an artist well known for her watercolours. Born in 1818 at the British Embassy in Paris she married Henry de la Poer Beresford, 3rd Marquess of Waterford in 1845 and was brought to Ford in Northumberland.

Following the death of her husband 14 years later, Louisa wanted to do something to uplift the lives of the tenants of the village which included providing basic healthcare and improving the housing conditions.

The hall was originally built as a school in 1860 and at its peak educated 130 children. Once built, Lady Waterford used her artistic talents to adorn it with the spectacular murals over the next two decades. Did you know that local tenants and school children modelled for the Biblical figures?

Nowadays the hall is open most days from 11-5pm and although there is no admission fee, a small donation would be appreciated.

Louisa died on 12 May 1891 and she is buried at the nearby St Michael and All Angels Church.