Lambton Castle
LAMBTON CASTLE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1159138
- Date first listed:
- 04-Jun-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Lambton Castle
- Statutory Address:
- LAMBTON CASTLE
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1159138
- Date first listed:
- 04-Jun-1952
- List Entry Name:
- Lambton Castle
- Statutory Address 1:
- LAMBTON CASTLE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- LAMBTON CASTLE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- North Lodge
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ 29828 52570
Details
NORTH LODGE LAMBTON PARK NZ 25 SE 4/47 Lambton Castle 4/6/52 (previously included in the Civil Parish of Harraton) GV II*
Castellated country house. Circa 1820-8 by Ignatius Bonomi for John George Lambton; incorporating core of the C18 Harraton Hall; 1862-5 additions by Sidney Smirke (following a design by John Dobson) were largely demolished in 1932. Ashlar sandstone, Welsh slate roofs and stone chimney stacks. Complex U-plan with detached south-east tower. Perpendicular style (mainly 2-light windows under hoodmoulds).
South front by Bonomi. 2 linked blocks and detached east tower. 3-storey, 5-bay west block with tall octagonal stair tower at west, pointed lower and square-headed upper windows, corbelled round turret on second floor at east and embattled parapet. Set-back lower 3-storey, 6-bay east block, refronting of C18 core, has pointed 2-storey upper windows (with panels of blank tracery masking floor level), flying buttresses between bays and embattled parapet with crocketed pinnacles. Tall octagonal east tower with splayed base, staggered loops, corbelled-out embattled parapet and taller round stair turret (parapet removed). West return partly refaced after demolition of 1862 additions; 2-storey, 3-bay north section by Bonomi with linking bay and porte- cochere on north. Porte-coch<re, constructed 1932 from Smirke's north arcade, has 4 panelled octagonal turrets, 4-centred arches and embattled parapets. Complex north front: split-level east wing is fragment of 1862 service wing; 3-storey, 3-bay centre, refronting of C18 core, has 24-pane sashes on ground floor; projecting 1862 staircase addition at west. Low-pitched roofs and octagonal stacks mainly hidden by parapets.
Interior: central C18 core has one room with re-used early C18 panelling and 2 rooms on south side with Palladian plasterwork (enriched doorcases; one room with fireplace and broken-pedimented overmantel flanked by shell niches). Other large ground-floor rooms and staircase by Smirke in Tudor style (linenfold panelling, carved wood fireplaces and beamed ceilings).
The home of John George Lambton, later 1st. Earl of Durham, a noted radical statesman and co-author of the 1832 Reform Bill.
(Christopher Hussey, "Lambton Castle - Durham", Country Life Volume CXXXIX, 1966).
Listing NGR: NZ2982852570
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 109390
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Country Life in Country Life, Vol. 89, (1966)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 01-Jul-2026 at 23:31:30.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.