Hardwick Hall, County Durham

Eneas Mackenzie writes in his An Historical, Topographical, and Descriptive View of the County Palatine of Durham (1834) that: About half a mile west of Sedgefield stands the manor and hall of Hardwick.

Under Hatfield's Survey, Roger Fulthorp and John Herdwick held this manor, by homage, fealty, suit of court, and 10s rent.

John de Herdwick died, seized of his proportion, in the 9th year of Bishop Skirlaw; and Agnes, his daughter and heiress, married Gilbert de Hoton, who died in the 12th year of the same prelate, seized in her right, leaving John his son and heir.

Freville Lambton married 1) Ann Milward, of Uttoxeter, Stafford; 2) Thomasine Milward; and 3) Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Wright, English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench and sister of Robert Wright for who the Manor House in Sedgefield was built in 1707.

[6] By his second wife, he had his son and heir, Thomas, who had six daughters and co-heirs: Barbara, Dorothy, Thomasina, Philadelphia, Margaret and Elizabeth.

[7][8][2] John Burdon (1711–1792) is credited as the main originator of Hardwick Hall, though Nikolaus Pevsner believes that he built on an existing manor which was constructed in 1634.

[9] The advertisement for the Hardwick Estate sold by the Lambton family in 1747, just before Burdon bought it, states that there exists a "good Mansion House"[10] so it is possible that he made major alterations and additions to this building.

When his father died in 1847 John inherited his fortune,[11] and was able to purchase the Hardwick Estate and spend a large sum on elaborate pleasure gardens.

From about his time his son Matthew Russell took over the running of Hardwick Hall and made improvements to the house and garden.

They lived in London for many years and when Emma inherited Hardwick Hall in 1850 they did not move to the house but instead continued to lease it to tenants.

One of these, John Hamilton-Russell, was married shortly before he went to war, and a film of his wedding which was attended by his aunt Princess Mary is available on the British Pathé website.