Fenham Hall and St Mary's College

North front, Fenham Hall

Fenham Hall is Grade II listed. The estate dates back to the 14th century.

The Hospitallers surrendered the estate to the Crown during the Reformation in the 16th century.

It became home to the Riddell family in 1642. The Riddells were staunch supporters of the Royalists. Sir Thomas of Fenham returned from exile to reclaim the confiscated estate in 1660, following the restoration of King Charles II.

North front

He sold the estate to John Ord, a Newcastle solicitor, in 1695. John Ord and his brother William built the current Fenham Hall between 1744 and 1748

Daniel Garrett designed the initial building. The pediment on the South facade displays the Ord family's coat of arms.

Within 50 years the estate had been landscaped, with parkland, a lake, an ice house, trees and lawns.

Side by side view

View an overlay map of the Fenham Hall estate in the 19th century and now. Use the slider in the lower left dialog to change the overlay transparency to see Fenham Hall and its surroundings in the present day.

Newcastle Libraries on flickr
Two Ball Lonnen

The approach to the Hall from the West Turnpike (West Road) had ball finials on the gatepost, giving the name to Two Ball Lonnen.

The finials are now at Whitfield Hall near Allendale, home of the Blackett-Ord family.

St Mary's College

The Society of the Sacred Heart bought the Hall in 1905, for £15k. The Hall housed a convent and dormitories. The Society added further buildings for a school and college, under the name of St Mary's.

Sacred Heart Catholic High School remains. The College closed in 1984. The college provided student accommodation for Newcastle University until its sale in 2020.