Rockliffe Hall - Durham

The North East of England has more than its fair share of country piles: De Vere Slaley Hall, Macdonald Linden Hall Hotel, and von Essen Seaham Hall to name but a few. The latest addition to this grand line up however, has an extra feather or two in its cap. Not only does it boast a traditional Old Hall and sympathetic newbuild wing with 50,000ft2 spa and wellness facility, Rockliffe Hall features one of the longest golf courses in Europe, and local fare cooked up by Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson.

Having stood empty for several years, the country house, located in the village of Hurworth, near Darlington, has now been painstakingly restored to its former glory.

Architects Browne Smith Baker were tasked with transforming the site – owned by Middlesbrough FC Chairman Steve Gibson – and creating a newbuild extension to complement the existing structure.

The aim of both architect and interior designers RTR Design was to create a seamless link between the old and the new. This was achieved by combining “traditional details with more contemporary ones to create a unified image,” explains Samantha Terry, Managing Director of RTR, resulting in what she calls “timeless elegance”.

The original grandeur of the Old Hall provided much of the inspiration for the design concept, along with its rich history and former residents, namely Quaker banker and keen horticulturist Alfred Backhouse. As a result, references to plant life are omnipresent through artwork and textiles, and also in less obvious ways. Further hints to a bygone era include a literary tribute to author Lewis Carroll, who is said to have penned one of his short stories here.

According to the designers, understanding the history of the house and its various rooms were crucial in moulding its future use. The Cocktail Bar, Morning Room and Drawing Room have been redecorated in a similar style to their original presentation, reflecting the character of the Old Hall. The Drawing Room is reminiscent of Victorian times with an oversized mirror perched above the fireplace, brass chandeliers and wall lamps, and Damask-style wallpaper. Armchairs and settees are upholstered in regal red and gold stripes with exposed wooden framework, and the look is completed with an original panelled ceiling and heavy drapes framing the bay windows.

The Morning Room, where ladies would once take afternoon tea, is a more feminine affair with decorative cornice work, soft velour upholstery, and shimmering wallcoverings depicting sinuous foliage.
“The Old Hall needed to exude the ambience of a Victorian home, to be elegant but with comfort,” explains Terry. “The public areas also needed to be flexible to enable them to be used for a variety of functions.” The hall’s carved pillars, sweeping staircase, and stained glass windows are already proving a popular setting for civil ceremonies.

“Everything within the Old Hall was designed to have an understated and timeless elegance,” Terry continues. “Very careful attention was paid to every area, taking into consideration its original use and the existing architecture and detailing.

“The design was built up very carefully around these existing details so that each enhanced the other rather than being at odds.”
The definitive feature of the Old Hall, a personal favourite, is the fine dining offering, Kenny Atkinson at The Orangery. Its botanical theme is in keeping with the original use of the room as well as the theme of the hotel. According to Terry, the strongest design feature is the carpet, by Wilton Carpets, with a “free-flowing vine pattern in the centre, tendrilling out around the feature columns and bleeding through into the private dining room.”

Newcastle-born Atkinson, whom the restaurant is named after, heads up the restaurant having shot to fame in 2009 after appearing on the BBC’s Great British Menu. A sample menu available at the time of Sleeper’s visit gave an indication of the outstanding cuisine that diners can expect when the restaurant is fully operational.

A double height lobby bridging the Old Hall and new wing look out onto the Marc Westenborg-designed golf course and cleverly-concealed sunken clubhouse with grass roof.

The entrance area features a colour palette of olive and ivory, and comprises striped wallpaper, rich oak parquet flooring, and central rugs with leaf motif, indicative of the heavy designs favoured by the Victorians. Console tables and bespoke sofas are supplied by CS Contract Furniture.

Moving into the new wing, the aim was to create a fresh and more modern approach. Guestrooms are spacious with the designers opting to provide the luxury of choice – a lounge area, dining table, dressing table, and desk – eschewing the idea of multi-use. King size beds by Respa International come as standard and a no-single-beds policy means that twin rooms have two doubles. The ten guestrooms in the Old Hall also benefit from original features.

RTR Design has specified products from a vast number of suppliers with casegoods from the likes of Curtis, PTT Design, and Frank Hudson, furniture from Knightsbridge, Morgan, and HB, and fabrics and wallcoverings from Panaz, Vescom, Harlequin Harris, and Muirhead, amongst others.

Bathrooms are specified through Utopia Projects and feature twin basins from Dornbracht, bathtubs from Kaldewei, sanitaryware from Villeroy & Boch, and vanity tops from Utopia Stoneworks.

Lighting suppliers too are diverse, with decorative fittings from Conciluce and Chelsom, and architectural fittings from Mike Stoane Lighting and Wever & Ducré, all specified by independent lighting designers KLS. Ensuring the hotel is fit for the 21st century, Philips Dynalite has provided an intelligent control system for the entire complex encompassing energy-saving technologies and individual control panels.

Rockliffe Hall
Hurworth-on-Tees, Darlington,
County Durham, DL2 2DU, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1325 729 999
Web: www.rockliffehall.com

Rooms 61 guestrooms
Dining Kenny Atkinson at The Orangery,
The Clubhouse, The Bistro, The Drawing Room
DrinkingCocktail Bar, Spikes Bar
Leisure 50,000ft2 spa with hydrotherapy pool
Facilities 8 meeting rooms

Rockliffe Hall
RTR Design Associates
191a Anson Court
Horninglow Street
Burton upon Trent         
Staffordshire
DE14 1NG
Tel: 01283 566788
Email: Samantha Terry - s.terry@rtr-design.com
www.rtr-design.com