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An Area Steeped In History

On the site of the present Hall Garth- hall in the field- stood the hunting lodge, primarily used by Anthony Bek, Edward I’s proud and ambitious Prince Bishop 1283-1310. The heavily forested hunting ground was convenient for the Bishops palace at Darlington. It is believed that part of a wall and an arch remain from this period. The house itself is 15th century. As you look at it from the front, the western part of its L shape is the oldest.

This contains a beautiful 17th century staircase with twisted balustrade and a Roman Doric door case. The two gabled wings are respectively 18th century and 19th century and contain fine 18th century woodwork and delicately cast fireplaces.

The two first floor windows in the 18th century wall are blocked up because of the window tax levied in that century. At the front of the house is the park with its tiny late 18th century Deer house and the next two fields, the ‘High Meadow’ and the ‘Redcar Field’, have the remains of a medieval ridge and furrow system.

Dean Beck which flowed from Heighington into the Skerne partly encircled the house and was famous locally for it’s trout. An old fishmonger, Harrison of Tubwell Row, Darlington used to advertise ‘Hall Garth Trout’.