IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
CORBRIDGE, NE45 5RJ

The current Dilston Hall is used as a training establishment by the mental health charity, Mencap. The college was established in 1971 and first inspected as a specialist college in 1994. The main college campus, is set in 9 acres of park, woodland and gardens which include the ruined castle Image and C17th chapel Image Teaching and residential accommodation is situated in the main building (a 3-storey large country house, and former maternity home) as well as around the estate in other houses and cottages. Update (2020): Dilston College is now a specialist education service run by Cambian.

At the time of the excavation the identity of the occupant of the coffin wasn't known. I am not aware of any published account of the excavation. Some previous occupants of the crypt had been removed to St Mary's RC Church, Corbridge.

The present-day Dilston Hall is a comparatively modern building in the grounds of Dilston Castle. The original Jacobean Hall was demolished in the 18th Century. Dilston Hall is the home of the residential Mencap College of Further Education. Lord (Brian) Rix, who had a daughter with learning difficulties, was instrumental in the establishment of the College when the building was converted from its previous use of maternity home.

Dilston Castle stands on a slope above the Devil’s Water. It may have been built as early as the 13th century, though no remains of this early period survive. In the early 15th century a three-floored tower house was built. It was well defended as a defence against raids from Scotland. In the later 15th century another turret was added. In the 16th and 17th century the tower was extended with less fortified sections built. The tower became less important and the new extensions were the most important part of the castle. In the mid 18th century much of these new additions were demolished, and the site is now in ruins. This site is a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Monument protected by law. http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PDetail?readform&PRN=N8985

A Roman Catholic chapel dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, built c1616. A tablet, carved with a cross and the word ‘MARIA’, is on the north wall (facing), sited above a former entrance. The building is a rare example of a Post-Reformation recusant chapel (for Catholics refusing to attend services of the Church of England). There is a Roman sepulchral stone in the external east gable, bearing an effigy of a woman, clad in the garments of the sick chamber, food placed in her hands for the journey to the after life http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/search/fr.cfm?rcn=NSMR03-8986

For description, see Image

This bridge leading into Dilston Park was probably built around 1821 at the same time as the hall. It is a Grade II listed building protected by law. http://www.keystothepast.info/article/10339/Site-Details?PRN=N9015