Trustee Savings Bank House, Allendale, Northumberland

This distinguished four-bedroom house sits in the heart of Allendale, Northumberland, a stone-built village within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Grade II-listed, the house was originally built as a savings bank in 1873, and was used as such for over 100 years. A wealth of period features remain in situ, including stone-mullioned windows, cast-iron fireplaces and intricate Victorian floor tiles. A peaceful walled garden lies to the rear of the house, while the front garden is brimming with greenery. The Lake District National Park is little over an hour’s drive away, while the vibrant city of Newcastle is even closer at hand.



Setting the Scene



This fine house was originally built as a savings bank for local villagers and businesses. Prior to this, the site is believed to have been used as an 18th-century candle factory, which provided the candles that were used in the nearby lead mines.



The savings bank had previously been established in 1838, but operated from a private house until this building’s construction in 1873. William Campbell Arniston was appointed its first treasurer, and remained in the role until his death ten years later.



In 1946, the building’s upper rooms were rented by Miss Margaret Reed, who was also the bank’s caretaker. The smaller rooms provided lodgings for boarders, while Miss Reed used one of the larger rooms to earn additional income, measuring ladies for Spirella corsets in the 1950s. The building served as a bank until 1986, and later a gift shop, before it was sensitively adapted as a house by its current owners.



The Grand Tour



An original wrought-iron railing set into a low squared stone wall surrounds the house and its verdant front garden. The front door sits within a Baroque doorcase flanked by Ionic pilasters; directly above it, an inscription reads ‘Savings bank established 1838, this building erected 1873.’



Lined with Victorian style porcelain-tiled flooring, the entrance hall has an original door framed by obscure glass panelling. An interior hallway with half-height timber-panelled walls opens onto the living room, bathed in light care of original stone-mullioned windows. A multi-fuel log burner sits within a stone fireplace, and original polished timber flooring runs underfoot. A second sitting room has half-height timber-panelled walls and stone-mullioned windows, as well as a multi fuel burner. An adjoining cupboard is currently used for wine storage.



A stained-glass door opens onto a vast kitchen and dining area. Shaker-style cabinetry is topped with reclaimed solid oak surfaces, and there is a Belfast sink and a Rangemaster Elan electric cooker. An original butlers pantry from 1873 is attached; currently used as a handy utility, above its door is the original annunciator panel.



On the first floor, a galleried landing has original timber banister and handrail, and is illuminated by stone-mullioned windows. It leads to two generous double bedrooms, each with a cast-iron fireplace. There are two additional bedrooms; one is currently used as a study, the other as a dressing room.



A shared bathroom has an original restored fireplace, a roll-top bathtub and a separate shower.



The Great Outdoors



To the rear of the house, a walled garden has a paved terrace and a neat lawned area. It is home to two stone outbuildings, and there is gated access to a side lane. The front garden is filled with a variety of flowers, trees and shrubbery.



There is street parking available and the village is a free parking zone.



Out and About



This house sits in the heart of Allendale, overlooking its pretty market square. The village amenities are on the doorstep, including a primary school, church, two popular pubs and Allendale Forge Studios, a community hub with an art gallery, a gift shop and a café. There is also a village hall with cinema and historic society, GP surgery, pharmacy, renowned butchers and post office. Allendal also hosts annual festivals, such as May fair, a folk festival and NYE Tar barrels festival.



Positioned within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the village is surrounded by spectacular scenery, and is brimming with countryside walks and trails. Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, the largest area of ancient semi-natural woodland in Northumberland, is a 16-minute drive from the house, while riverside walks along the River East Allen can be accessed directly on foot. The UNESCO World Heritage site Hadrians Wall is some 15 miles away, whilst the Lake District National Park is just over an hour’s drive away.



The handsome town of Hexham is 19 minutes away by car. Centred around Hexham Abbey, the winding high street provides an array of shops, galleries, independent cafés and restaurants, along with a beloved monthly farmers’ market, the Art Deco Forum Cinema and the wonderful Beaumont Hotel.



Newcastle is less than an hour away by car. The lively city teems with galleries, theatres and music venues, including the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Biscuit Factory. The city has an excellent food scene with award-winning restaurants and micro-breweries.



Hexham rail station is a 21-minute drive away, with trains to Newcastle in around 35 minutes. From here, services run to London King’s Cross in just under three hours. Newcastle airport is also a 30-minute drive away.



Council Tax Band: D