History of Harnham Hall
Harnham Hall is first mentioned as a fortalice (fortress) in the 1415 Harleian Manuscripts, with the house being added approximately 100 years later. The tower and house are built rather daringly on the edge of the crag surrounded by terraced gardens.
One of Harnham’s most famous inhabitants was Katherine Babington, whose husband was a captain in the Northumberland Militia and eventually went on to be Governor of Berwick. Katherine was said to be one of the most beautiful women in England; it was reported that the streets of the towns she visited became impassable due to the crowds of people trying to catch a glimpse of such a beautiful lady. In an attempt to ease the congestion, a law was passed in Newcastle that she should only be allowed to eat in the back rooms of inns and hostelries to prevent people gathering in the streets.
Her strong will matched her beauty, both she and her husband were non-conformists of the time and in 1666 whilst the vicar was mid sermon, he was pulled from his pulpit by the son of the blacksmith who was acting under the orders of Katherine Babington.
She was promptly prosecuted and ordered to serve a prison sentence. To avoid going to gaol, this was served at Harnham in the tower, where she remained until her death in 1670.
The vicar at Bolam refused to allow her burial in consecrated ground, so her husband had a tomb hewn from the solid rock of the cliff below Harnham Hall. Years later the tomb was raided and her remains scattered. Her remains were later gathered and placed in the tomb where an inscription, written by Katherine reads:
My time is past as you may see,
I viewed the dead as you viewed me,
‘or long you’ll lie as low as I,
And some will look on thee.
Due to ongoing restoration, it is currently not possible to visit the tomb or its garden at present.
The dragon crest of the Babington family was installed in plaster on the ceiling of the parlour at Harnham Hall – since then the room has been known as the Dragon room.
