In the lower Derwent Valley on the approach to Tyneside, a tale of two landowners unfolded in the 18th century.
The Bowes at Gibside and the Claverings at Axwell lorded it from their great halls and parklands.
Under the National Trust, Gibside has taken on a new role as a major visitor attraction.
But Axwell Hall, the Palladian seat of the Claverings, went out of use in 1981 and has lain empty ever since.
But at last a new life beckons for the grade II-star listed building, with work now due to start this year on its conversion into 20 apartments.
It is part of a trend. Earlier this month we reported on a fresh start for the 1824 John Dobson-designed Longhirst Hall in Northumberland which will also be turned into homes.
And recently we highlighted how mansions built on what was then open heathland at Low Fell in Gateshead by successful 19th century businessmen have also been divided into high-end apartments.
Axwell Hall was built over three years from 1758 although James Paine, its nationally-important architect, has left an account in which he complained of interference in the design by his client, Sir Thomas Clavering.
The Claverings had bought the Axwell land in 1629 and Sir Thomas’s new hall and surrounding pleasure grounds may have been an attempt to keep up with the Bowes just down the road at Gibside.
Indeed, leading North East architect John Dobson made alterations to Axwell Hall in 1817-18.
The estate was put up for sale in 1920, and the inventory paints a picture of what it was like.
Also read:
Morpeth’s Longhirst Hall to be converted into 28 luxury homes
There was the hall, stables, pleasure grounds, walled kitchen garden, home farm, gardener’s house, a villa, lodges, cottages, a dairy and spa well.
The hall and 60 acres were bought by the Newcastle Industrial and Ragged School.
This has been established in 1847 at Sandgate in Newcastle because, according to a report of the time, “there being no agency to bring moral and religious training to bear upon the juvenile depravity and delinquency prevalent in the town.”
The aim was to provide education and industrial training to poor youngsters who, when the school opened, received a dinner of a pennyworth each of bread and cheese.
When Axwell Hall was purchased, it also absorbed the pupils from industrial and ragged schools in Gateshead, Durham, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, giving a total of 153 youngsters.
But by the 1970s disrepair had set in and closure came in 1981.
The hall and 35-acre park were bought in 2005 by Eight Property Ltd, which turned the derelict walled garden site into the 18-home Axwell Gardens.
This month has seen the completion of the £3.3m Courtyard development of 27 apartments and houses on the site of the former stables adjacent to the hall.
Now comes the third phase – the conversion of the hall itself.
Alex Dawson, a director of Eight Property, says: “We have already spent a lot of money on the hall structure, with new windows and roof and remediating dry rot.
“We work primarily with listed buildings and this sort of investment gives them a sustainable future.”
The rebirth of Axwell Hall is part of the resurgence of the Derwent Valley, which includes National Trust investment at Gibside, a raised profile from the reintroduction of red kites into the area, and the start of the £3.4m Land of Oak and Iron project, backed by £2.2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It aims to make the most of the valley’s natural and heritage assets.
Mr Dawson added: “We have seen a big difference in the Derwent Valley in the last 10 years. Big strides have been made and now we are starting on the hall.”
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