Bessie Surtees House

Bessie Surtees House is a merchant residence built in the 16th and 17th centuries, consisting of two connected five-story buildings located on Newcastle's Sandhill. The structure features period windows, fireplaces, and room layouts that show how wealthy traders lived and conducted business in this area.

The building dates from Newcastle's era as a thriving trading port, when wealthy merchants built substantial homes for their families and commercial ventures. During the 1930s restoration, parts of other endangered 17th-century buildings were carefully incorporated into its structure to preserve them.

The building displays ornate wooden carvings from the Jacobean period that visitors can see throughout its rooms. These handcrafted details reveal the taste and wealth of the merchant families who occupied the space.

The first floor is open to visitors as a free exhibition space with information about the building and its inhabitants. The upper floors house Historic England offices, so access to those areas may be limited depending on current activities.

A dramatic event occurred in 1772 when Elizabeth Surtees climbed from a first-floor window to elope with John Scott, who would later become Lord Chancellor. This romantic episode is one of the building's most memorable stories and connects it to an important figure in English legal history.

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Website: https://historicengland.org.uk/get-involved/visit/bessie-surtees-house

GPS coordinates: 54.96860,-1.60840

Latest update: December 10, 2025 16:29