Heritage

Restoration Works Begin on Alnwick's Northumberland Hall

Specialist contractors have begun the first phase of restoration on the Grade I listed Northumberland Hall, starting the rescue of a water-damaged landmark set to become Bailiffgate Museum's new home.

Alnwick.live·14 August 2026

Physical restoration has begun on one of Alnwick's most prominent landmarks. The first phase of works on the Grade I listed Northumberland Hall, the 1826 assembly rooms overlooking the Market Place, is now under way, marking the start of a project to rescue the building and turn it into the new home of Bailiffgate Museum.

Currently closed because of damage caused by water ingress, the Hall needs careful stabilisation before any larger transformation can begin. This opening stage is backed by £181,000 from Northumberland County Council, drawn from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal Place Programme.

What the first phase involves

Rather than the visible building work most people picture, this early stage is about drying the building out and understanding the damage. As reported by Northumberland County Council, specialist conservation contractors are removing and stabilising areas of internal plasterwork, investigating water ingress on the first floor and assessing the extent of timber rot, with the initial works delivered over a two-week period.

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Only two parking bays beside the Hall are affected. The Market Place, the weekly markets and town-centre parking all continue as normal while the works go on.

Why it matters locally

Northumberland Hall has stood at the centre of Alnwick for nearly two centuries, but years of under-use and water damage have left it at risk. Stabilising the fabric now protects a significant listed building and clears the way for its next chapter as a museum.

"It's fantastic to see work to restore Northumberland Hall backed by the County Council's investment," said council leader Glen Sanderson.

The main construction work is expected to start in late summer 2026. It is the first tangible step towards Bailiffgate's move, a relocation supported by more than £4m of National Lottery Heritage funding and up to £1.7m from the Borderlands deal, that will give the town's story a far larger and more fitting home.

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