Centre of Britain Hotel, Main Street, Haltwhistle

Image: © Andrew Curtis Taken: 13 Feb 2015

The oldest part of the Grade II Listed, Centre of Britain Hotel, is a fortified Tower House dating from the early C17th. Several of its old features were discovered during restoration of the former coaching inn, the Red Lion, in 1996-7. It incorporated an unvaulted basement with narrow staircase in the west wall accessing the first floor; first-floor principal apartment with main entrance in the north wall probably originally accessed by ladder; and a second-floor solar also accessed by ladder. Externally, much of the corbelled parapet survives as does a gabled caphouse. Later additions include north and south wings of three storeys - of which the north wing was demolished in the C18th before the rear wing and outshots were added. A tunnel behind a hidden door was found during the renovation work and attracted much interest locally. It is said to have several blocked-up branches, including to the cellars, and has been described as a 'Border Reivers Escape Tunnel'. www.centre-of-britain.org.uk http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/2.2978/mystery-of-ancient-tunnel-under-hotel-1.646242

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