The Gosforth Park estate of about 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) was owned from about 1509 by the Brandling family.

The house was built between 1755 and 1764 for Charles Brandling (1733–1802) to a design by architect James Paine.

Charles John Brandling (1769–1826) suffered financial problems as a result of which the estate was sold, in 1852, to Thomas Smith.

In 1880, the house was sold with 807 acres (3.3 km2) to High Gosforth Park Ltd, a company formed to establish a racecourse on the estate.

[1] Norah Balls admitted late in life to having been involved in the arson attack.