Industry News

Grade one listed Gainford Hall has been successfully removed from the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register following restoration works by Raby Estates.

This important step in The Rising, the five-year Raby Estates redevelopment plan, marks a turning point, as Raby delivers on its first promise to the local community to restore and renovate several historic buildings, preserving them for future generations.

Gainford Hall is a Jacobean mansion, built during the closing years of Elizabeth I’s reign, for John Cradock, Vicar of Gainford. This iconic building of the Renaissance period retains many of its original features, including a full height porch, split-level interior, original fireplaces, central chimney stack and plasterwork. Its layout, just two rooms deep, was considered cutting-edge for its day and is possibly the earliest house of its kind in northern England.

The extensive works included installation of steel ties to the main walls and roof timbers, re-roofing, rebuilding and repairing the chimneys, the complete repointing of external walls and the installation of new lead windows. The interior of the Hall is also being restored and refurbished, maintaining its original features, whilst bringing the Hall into the 21^st century.

The project was overseen by Raby buildings manager Phillip Dent, as well as maintenance manager Michael Bennett, with consultation from historical building architects Donald Insall. Where possible, local contractors have been employed to undertake the crucial work.   

Raby Estate’s CEO, Duncan Peake said of the news: “We are extremely pleased to see that Gainford Hall has now been removed from the Historic England Heritage at Risk Register. It was our primary aim to restore this extremely important building to its former glory, preserving it for future generations.

“Our project was the first in a series of significant improvements across the Estate, which are helping stimulate local economic regeneration and create jobs, as well as securing the future of some of County Durham’s most iconic properties.”

In addition to Gainford Hall, the Dovecote, which sits within the boundary of the Hall, has also been fully renovated during the works, ensuring its removal from the Heritage at Risk Register as well.

“We are extremely pleased with this outcome”, says Philip Dent. “Both Gainford Hall and the Dovecote are important local buildings from a bygone age that now have their place in the modern world. We look forward to welcoming the new tenants once interior works are completed early next year.”

The restoration of Gainford Hall was funded by the release of land owned by Raby Estate to build high quality residential housing in Gainford and Staindrop, contributing to the county’s housing requirements. Gainford Hall, a residential property, is now being marketed for tenancy by Savills, including several modernised outbuildings and adjacent land. The restoration is due to be completed by February 2023.