[1] The house, which was designed by John Dobson for Thomas Emerson Headlam, a physician and Mayor of Newcastle, was completed in 1822.

In 1871 the house was bought by Lord Armstrong's business partner Andrew Noble.

At this time Noble had architect Norman Shaw make significant alterations to the house.

[1][5] Following the death of Noble's widow in 1929 the house was put to various uses, including a college, a civil defence establishment, a seminary and a residential school.

Following an extensive restoration and refurbishment in 2005,[5] Jesmond Dene House became a 40-bedroom boutique hotel with a three-rosette restaurant.