SEATON HOLME

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The earliest phase in the development of Seaton Holme for which there is evidence above ground is an aisled hall with adjoining wing to the east, both of stone rubble. All the indications are that this was part of a mid 13th century building phase, this date is suggested by documentary sources and confirmed by dendrochronology. The east wing was at least partly rebuilt in the late 13th-early 14th century. The wing housed services on the ground floor and provided a great chamber on the first. The hall range was rebuilt with a considerably taller open hall in the second half of the 15th century. The two wings were later re-roofed, and the west wing raised in height by almost one metre. Dendrochronological analysis has dated the re-roofing of the west wing to the early 16th century. The trusses of the east wing have timbers dating to both the late 15th and late 16th centuries, suggesting that the wing may have been re-roofed at the same time that the hall range was rebuilt, but was then at least partially rebuilt a century later. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries the building was extensively renovated, in the course of which the interior was remodelled and the west wing virtually rebuilt. Alterations in 1989 included the demolition of a two storey stone built structure which stood between the north wall of the hall and the west wall of the east wing, and a pair of stone built wings which projected from the east wall of the east wing. To the north of Seaton Holme is a two storey building of stone construction, formerly an outbuilding of the rectory. The date and original function of the building is not know, there are a number of medieval windows and possible doorways on the first floor of the building. In the late 19th-early 20th century the outbuilding was converted in to a farm house and barn. In November 1921 the Rectory and its garden were sold to the Easington Union for use as a children's home.

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MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

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NZ 41374352 Rectory (NAT). (1)

Old Rectory, now Seaton Holme. Central block plainly Medieval with
stepped buttresss, the rest has alterations of all periods. Grade 2.

A building to the north described by Surtees as an oratory has
Medieval walls and fragments but is much altered. Now a farmhouse and
barn. Grade 2. (2-3)

Seaton Holme upgraded to 1. Farmhouse at rear of Seaton Holme, with
adjacent Barn upgraded to 2*. (4)

NZ41364352. The Old Rectory is as described by Authorities 2
and 3. Still in use though in a poor condition it is being partly
renovated. Not outstanding. See Ground photograph from the SW.
(FAS/N/ 1-2).

NZ 41374355. The oratory is still in use as an outbuilding for
Rectory Farm. See Ground phtoograph from SE. (FAS/NR 1-2)

Published Survey (1:2500) Correct. (5)

Seaton Holme (Formerly listed as Easington Old Rectory) Grade I
Originally a rectory. In Local Authority use c.1930-1970. House of
high social standing. C13 or early C14 with alterations and additions
c.1600, late C18 and early-mid C19. Limewashed sandstone and
limestone rubble; dressed sandstone buttresses, quoins and chimneys;
several renewed brick stacks and steeply-pitched C19 and C20 Welsh
slate roofs. Rough H-plan: original hall with parlour bay and
cross-wing to right; cross-wing added c.1600 to left of hall range.
Street facade: 3 + 4 + 1 + 2 bays, 2 storeys.

Hall range: C13 or early C14; 4 bays; 2 narrow stepped buttresses to
front and rear; doorway in left bay. Major late C18 alterations
involved insertion of 12-pane sashes and renewal of hall roof. Low
parapet masks eaves. Rear has scattered fenestration including
several 12 and 16-pane sashes and a C19 2-light window with
round-arched heads. C20 brick gable stacks.

Projecting step-gabled cross-wing to right of hall range: C13 or
early C14; one bay; 2 narrow stepped buttresses to front and rear.
Roof entirely renewed c.1600, of curved-principal-rafter type (c.f.
West Auckland Manor House, Co. Durham). Two 16-pane sashes with
doorway to left. Traces of a large first floor lancet to rear.
Early C19 2-bay wing attached to right has three 16-pane sashes and
a moderate-pitch roof.

Projecting cross-wing to left of hall range: c.1600, street frontage
and left return rebuilt early C19; 3 bays. Chamfered plinth and
dressed quoins. Two 16-pane sash windows on ground floor and 3
above with chamfered reveals. First floor windows have projecting
sills. Cornice with low parapet above. Moderate pitch roof.
Corniced stacks project slightly beyond gable and rest on a row of
3 corbels. Fenestration of left return and rear renewed mid C19 in
Tudor style. Tudor-arched doorway at rear also C19 but may
incorporate older stonework. Remains of curved-principal-rafter
roof.

Interior: Hall range has late C18 staircase. Cross wing to right
has 2 doorways opening onto former screens passage.

Farmhouse and adjacent barn 15 meters to north of Seaton Holme,
Grade II* (Formerly listed as Farmhouse at rear of Seaton Holme,
with adjacent Barn)
Farmhouse and barn which may originally have been an oratory
connected with Seaton Holme. Possibly C13 with extensive
alterations, especially in the C19. Mainly limestone rubble with
sandstone window and door surrounds. Long rectangular plan. 2
storeys. Facade facing rear of Seaton Holme consists of farmhouse
with attached barn to right.

Farmhouse: 4 windows; openings mainly C19 sashes except for
pointed-arched first floor window to right which has large chamfered
jambs. Modern-pitch C20 Welsh slate roof and brick gable stacks.
Left return has a large pointed-arched window with double-chamfered
jambs under a pointed hoodmould with worn stops. Below this window
evidence of a blocked ground floor opening.

Barn: 4 irregular bays. Left bay has a large C20 vehicle entrance
and 2 square blocked openings above. This bay is divided
internally from the remainder of the barn by a C20 brick wall which
projects slightly above the roof line. To the right at first floor
level is a blocked pointed-arched window with large alternating
jambs. Further right a blocked 2-light window with alternating jambs
and trefoil-headed lights in a monolithic arch. Right return has
a small blocked lancet set high in gable. C20 asbestos roof and
brick gable coping. Eaves line of farmhouse and barn probably
lowered in C19 as it now cuts through the heads of several first
floor windows. Rear of buildings extensively renewed with mainly
C20 casements.

Interior: apart from window splays no original internal features
remain. Both farmhouse and barn roofs have been renewed.

Walls, 10 metres east of barn to north of Seaton Holme, Grade II.
Remnants of walled garden to Seaton Holme. Mid-late C18. North
wall of random rubble faced with hand-made narrow red brick. East
wall of unfaced random rubble. Both walls have stone coping and are

recognisable bond has single cambered openings at either end. Rubble
wall continues at right angle to the brick range. (6)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1922

( 2) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) Durham Easington RD 1966 5

( 3) General reference

Hist of Durham 1816 13 (R Surtees)

( 4) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE (HHR) Durham Easington DC Alt list 29-Sep-1980

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ISS 21-APR-80

( 6) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

DOE(HHR) Dist of Easington, Durham, Feb 1985, 6-8

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