Morton House
Above: A mid-19th century image of Morton House, which at that time was occupied by Mr Nathaniel Ellison Esq. The above image was created by J.C. Farrow and engraved by H.T. Watson. See further below for information on Nathaniel Ellison in the 1851 census of Morton House.
On 26th April 1950 Morton House became a grade II listed building in the Civil Parish of Little Lumley. It is located here:
Although Morton is mentioned in the Boldon Book - a survey of the County of Durham compiled by the Bishop of the Diocese in about 1180 - the oldest known map which shows a ‘house’ at Morton is the 1576 map below by Christopher Saxton, named Dunelmensis episcopatus. Qui comitatus est palatinus vera et accurata descriptio. This is the first printed map of County Durham. It shows towns, villages, castles, parks, woods, rivers and hills.
Above: Morton House today
The original Morton House was constructed c.1340 by Petrus de Morton. It was owned by the Lumley family from c.1406-1437 then passed to a Mr Richard Errington. It then became the home of Sir William Belasyse, the first Mayor of Sunderland, under Bishop Morton’s Charter, of 1634. Cardinal Wolsey granted a lease of the manor and grange in 1525 to Richard Belasyse, an ancestor of Sir William. Sir William was High Sheriff of the county from 1625 until his death in 1640. The Houghton-le-Spring parish registers record the burial of Charles Belasys on 18th August, 1601. He was Doctor in ye civill lawe, Morton.
The property remained in the hands of the Belasyses until 1678 when it passed to Thomas Smith (1680-1720) of West Herrington. It was under the Smith ownership in 1707-1709 that the house was partly rebuilt and remodelled into the building we see today. Above the door is the Smith family coat of arms and the date 1709. The property later passed to the Lambtons.
A seemingly insignificant newspaper article of 1745 concerning a lost dog confirms that the house was still in the possession of the Smith family:
Newcastle Courant 01 June 1745
Strayed, from Morton House, near Durham, a black and white smooth-skin’d Spaniel dog, of the pointer kind, thick headed, short ear’d, middle siz’d with tar on one or both his sides and answers to the name of Brock. Whoever can give notice of the said dog or bring him to Mr Smith, at Morton House aforesaid, or Mr Blakistone in Chester, shall have reasonable charges and otherwise sufficiently rewarded for the same.
The Webster family, and Mr R.C. Thompson, formerly of Sunderland, occupied the house in later years then it passed to the Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries Ltd., then to the National Coal Board before returning to private ownership in 1961.
One of the best-known members of the Lambton family who lived at Morton House was Ralph Lambton, the celebrated fox hunter, who kept a pack of hounds. A great friend of Ralph Lambton was Robert Surtees, the Durham historian, an ancestor of Brigadier-General Sir H. Conyers Surtees, of Mainsforth. Robert Surtees, when a scholar at Houghton Grammar School, used to visit Ralph Lambton at Morton House. In the grounds stood the famous Surtees’ beech tree, on which young Surtees carved his name. A newspaper article concerning a garden party at Morton House in 1933 stated that the letters “R. Surtees” could still be made out on the tree but the date was undecipherable.
A 1763 newspaper advertisement mentions Morton House as follows:
Newcastle Courant, 22 October 1763
To be sold, in such parcels as may be agreed upon, The Capital Messuage or Seat House called Morton House, in the parish of Houghton-le-Spring, in the County of Durham, with the copyhold and leasehold lands thereto belonging, now in the several occupations of John Purvis, John Smurfitt, Isaac Shanks, Jonathan Cook and others, as tenant thereof, pays a modus of i1. 6s and 8d in lieu of all manner of tithes and a yearly rent of 2l. 2s and 6d to the Lord Bishop of Durham, viz. 2l for the leasehold and 2s 6d for the copyhold; under which said premises is a valuable colliery, for the use of a fire engine, stables, granaries and near fifty houses for workmen are built upon the said premises.
Ralph John Lambton Esq. lived in Morton House from 1818 and was still there on the 1841 census, aged 72 along with a staff of seven. His time there was not without its trials:
Newcastle Courant 15 October 1841
Great and Little Lumley Association
Fifteen Pounds Reward
Whereas, late on Saturday night last, or early on Sunday morning, some evil-disposed person or persons did feloniously break into the greenhouse of R.J. Lambton Esq., at Morton House and stole therefrom a large quantity of valuable geranium plants. Whoever will give information of the offender or offenders, shall on conviction be paid a reward of 15 Pounds by Mr Ralph Walton, treasurer of the above Association
Great Lumley, October 13th, 1841.
Mr Lambton passed away in 1844 but the house remained in the ownership of the Lambton family and was rented out to subsequent occupiers. On his death it was advertised as follows:
Newcastle Courant 13 December 1844
To be Let
And Entered to at May-day Next
The mansion of Morton House, the residence of the late Ralph John Lambton Esq. for the last twenty-six years, together with the lawn, shrubberies, walled garden well stocked with fruit trees in full bearing, vinery, &c.; most extensive stabling, coach houses, corn and hay lofts, cow houses, &c., &c.; and about twenty-five acres of excellent old grass land.
The mansion consists of entrance hall, dining room, library and dressing room and thirteen bedrooms and dressing rooms; housekeeper’s room, butler’s pantry, kitchen, dairy, servants’ hall, and servants’ bedrooms, &c., &c.; with most extensive ale and wine cellars. The Whole being in the most complete state of repair and replete with every requisite convenience.
Morton House is distant about three miles from the post town of Chester-le-Street; two miles from Houghton-le-Spring; and seven miles from Sunderland; and is within a quarter of a mile of the Fence Houses Station on the Newcastle and Darlington Railway where the whole of the trains stop in passing.
Mrs Smith, housekeeper at Morton House, will show the house; and for rent and particulars apply to Mr Morton, Lambton Office, near Chester-le-Street.
Lambton Office, 11th December 1844.
Ahead of the next occupant arriving at Morton House, notice was given of the impending sale of the contents:
Newcastle Courant 14 February 1845
Sale at Morton House. A sale of the household furniture and wines, late belonging to Ralph John Lambton Esq., deceased, will take place in the latter part of April. Particulars will be given in a future advertisement and catalogues will be published.
Morton House, February 11th, 1845.
The next occupier of Morton House was Mr Nathaniel Ellison (1786-1861). He was present at the time of the 1851 census and it is this gentleman whose name appears on the engraving at the top of this page. In 1851, Mr Ellison was aged 65. He was Her Majesty’s Commissioner of the Newcastle-upon-Tyne District Court of Bankruptcy. He lived at Morton House with wife Frances (63) and a staff of nine. In 1852 he was involved in a carriage accident close to his home which was reported as follows:
Newcastle Courant 22 October 1852
Accident to Mr Commissioner Ellison
An accident, of a somewhat serious character, occurred on Monday evening last, to the much-respected Commissioner of the Court of Bankruptcy for this district. Mr Ellison, after sitting in his court on Monday, was returning home in a phaeton, drawn by a hired horse, which was driven by his son, Mr Frederic Ellison. They were not far from the learned gentleman's residence, Morton House, when the horse took fright, and started ; and in the endeavour to pull him in, the reins broke. The commissioner and his son were then both violently thrown out. Assistance having been procured, the learned gentleman was taken up quite insensible, and was conveyed home. Mr Frederic Ellison escaped with but little damage. From the learned gentleman's age, and from the fact that he had not very long recovered from a severe illness, some alarm was felt as to the consequences. We are glad to hear, however, that though bruised and much shaken, the learned gentleman was not dangerously hurt, and is gradually recovering.
The year 1859 saw the marriage in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, of Mr and Mrs Ellison's only son, Nathaniel Frederick to Sarah Augusta Maskelyne. Nathaniel junior was a Captain in the Royal North Gloucestershire Militia.
Newcastle Courant 20 April 1860
Morton House
Sale of Furniture
Mr Brough is instructed by Mr N. Ellison Esq., who is changing his residence, to sell by auction, at Morton House on Tuesday 8th May and following days, at one o’clock precisely, a portion of the household furniture, particulars of which will be duly announced. Morton House is only five minutes’ walk from Fence Houses Station on the North Eastern Railway.
Mrs Ellison passed away in 1860 and Mr Ellison in 1861. In 1893, long after his death, the Newcastle Chronicle reported on a supposed conversation between which had taken place between Mr Ellison and Mr George Hopper, who built the Britannia Iron Works at Fence Houses around 1854. Mr Ellison must have been alarmed to hear about the construction of so much industry close to his home. For further information see the Britannia Iron Works page of this website.
"When old George Hopper commenced to build his new forges &c. at Bank Top, near Fence Houses, the gentleman who then lived at Morton House (his name was Ellison, I think) met Hopper and expostulated with him about the smoke, the noise, &c. Mr Hopper replied “Aa get me livin’ by smoke and clatter!”"
On the 1861 census, the occupants were now Mr Henry Robert Webster and family. Mr Webster was aged 45, a County Magistrate and Iron Merchant. Mr Webster had sat on the bench at the Houghton-le-Spring Petty Court Sessions since 1861. Henry had married Anne Laing, in Sunderland in 1850. Their family consisted of daughter Anne Webster, born Sunderland 1851; son Henry Robert Ingham Webster, born Sunderland, 1855 and son Herbert Webster, born 1859. There was also a staff of ten, although none of the staff present in the 1851 census in the previous household of Mr Ellison were present. They consisted of a butler, a lady’s maid, cook, laundress, housemaid, under-housemaid, kitchen maid, nurse, coachman and gardener. It is interesting to note that the coachman, Mr Robert Robson, had a separate residence denoted as 2 Morton House and that the gardener, Thomas Mose and his wife Ann were at no. 3 Morton House.
In 1871, Henry Webster was aged 55 and was now a rope maker and Justice of the Peace. His wife Anne was 45. Still living at the family home were daughter Anne (18) and son Herbert (11).
On Monday, 13th January 1879 there was a serious fire at Morton House and it was widely reported in the press the next day:
Shields Daily Gazette, 14 January 1879
Destructive fire near Fence Houses
Morton House burnt down
At an early hour yesterday morning, Morton House, the residence of Mr Henry R. Webster J.P. and for many years the family seat of Ralph Lambton, one of the ancestors of the Earl of Durham, took fire and in a few hours a fine old English mansion – beautifully situated, in a nest of shrubbery and spacious lawn, where in days-of-old the famous hounds of Ralph Lambton were wont to disport themselves under the critical eye of their master – was nothing but a seething mass of burning beams, charred furniture and blank walls. A portion of the east end of the building was saved but its worth is nothing compared with that which is destroyed. The salvage from the burning building is so small that the coach house holds it all and almost everything that was valuable lies buried and useless within the compass of the of the heated walls. Valued engravings, pictures by famous artists, articles of virtu, some costly and highly treasured cabinets remarkable for a curious style of workmanship and a valuable collection of old china, stated to be two to three centuries old, have been destroyed and the inventory of the disaster includes also the household furniture, books and some papers valuable to the owner. Even the insurance policy is burnt. Morton House, which belongs to the Earl of Durham, irrespective of the insurance held by the occupier, Mr Webster, is situated on the west side of the Sunderland branch of the North Eastern Railway between Leamside and Fence Houses stations and about a mile from the latter. It is approached through an extensive shrubbery, which for some distance runs parallel with the railway. It is a stone building in an early but plain style of architecture; and the front of the house is ivy grown. It is a squarely-built house and at the east end – which has been preserved – are the coach house and the coachman’s dwelling house. Over the main entrance to the hall if the coat of arms of a family named Smith who, it is stated, were the owners of the house before it fell into the possession of the Lambton family some centuries ago. The date beneath the coat of arms is 1709. In the north-west corner of the building there had been a more recent enlargement and it is in this portion of the house, which was used as a dining hall, that the fire originated. Mr Webster, who has been unwell for some time, and his family appeared to have retired to rest some time about eleven o’clock on the previous night at which hour there was no appearance of any fire. Half an hour later, Mrs Webster was alarmed by the barking of her pet dog and a continuous crackling accompanied by a strong smell of burning and she aroused the servants. At the same time, Mr Robson, the coachman and Mr Stothard, late butler to Mr Webster, who was on a visit to the coachman, were aroused by the loud barking of the dogs and immediately after they heard the alarm raised by Mrs Webster. The seat of the fire was found to be in the dining hall and it soon broke through the ceiling and fired the best bedroom and from thence, through the roof and windows, proclaiming the disaster for miles around. Mr Webster and Miss Webster had barely time to make their way down the main staircase ere the flames burst through the dressing room door and had it not been for the prompt action of Mrs Webster, their lives would have been in great jeopardy. They were simply attired in their dressing gowns and were consequently much exposed to the severity of the weather on making their way to the coachman’s house, where they obtained every assistance and comfort. Scott, the footman was despatched to Bowes House Farm for Lord Durham’s fire engine and the coachman procured the services of engine from the Philadelphia Colliery, both of which arrived with as little delay as possible. There was a good supply of water from a pond about 100 yards distant from the house which fortunately was not frozen. Whilst the hose of one engine was directed to the rooms over and to the east of the dining hall, the other was used at the front of the building with the object of arresting the progress of the flames which a strong south-westerly wind was blowing with fierceness around the corner of the building. Hundreds of miners and other persons from the neighbouring villages had by this time assembled and every effort was made to save as much as possible. A ladder was placed to one of the windows at the east side of the building and by this means portions of the furniture and family silver, together with Mrs Webster’s jewellery, were saved. The water from the two jets was powerless to check the spread of the flames which circled round the building with such rapidity that the ladder had to be abandoned and all hope of saving anything that remained in the ill-fated hall was extinguished; but not before two of the firemen and shoemaker, named Nebans, residing at Bank Head, were injured, although not seriously, in their praiseworthy efforts. Meanwhile, roof after roof had fallen in with loud crashes, creating whirlwind of dust and fire, until in the course of two hours from the discovery of the fire, nothing but the bare walls remained to tell the disaster. During the excitement, a little pet dog of the Dandie Dinmont breed heedlessly rushed into the burning dining room and did not return. The cause of the fire is supposed to have been the overheating of the flue in the chimney of the dining hall and the scorched tracings at the place indicated, which are very distinct, give a very truthful colouring to this supposition. The chimney is peculiar in construction and when it required cleaning, an entrance was broken through from the back. There can be no doubt too, that at this part of the building the fire raged with the greatest fierceness and this is evinced in the lead roofing and spouts, which were torn down and melted as if they had been subject to a furnace fire. The principal silver was rescued; but some very valuable documents have been lost, including the insurance policy. The lawn in front of the building was strewn with bits of old china; and their worth and genuineness was testified by the fact that while the bronze candlesticks and other metallic articles were wrought into all manner of fantastic shapes by the intense heat from the flames, the figures upon the broken china remained intact. In the course of the morning, the broken pieces were gathered together and arranged by the Rev A.M. Norman, Rector of Burnmoor and private chaplain to the Earl of Durham, with the object of securing some the plates and vases in their entirety and having them cemented together. The fire continued to smoulder throughout the morning and the place was visited by many persons, amongst them being Mr H.T. Morton, Biddick Hall, chief agent to the Earl of Durham; Mr Christopher Webster, Pallion (brother to Mr H.R. Webster), Mr James Laing, Thornhill; Mr Steward, land agent to the Earl of Durham; and the Rev A.M. Norman, M.A., Rector of Burnmoor. An estimate of the damage cannot as yet be made, but it is stated that it will amount to several thousand pounds. A later despatch reports as follows:- The names of the two firemen who were injured whilst endeavouring to save valuable property from destruction are Crozier of Philadelphia and Tate of Wapping. Both men are much burnt about the head, face and neck. After receiving the injury, they were taken into the coachman’s house and had their wounds dressed by Miss Webster. The men were subsequently able to return to their homes and are reported to be progressing favourably. It is stated that Mr Webster’s furniture was insured for about half its value.
Despite the destructive fire, Morton House, being insured, was rebuilt and the Websters continued to make Morton House their home when it was inhabitable again. This must have taken place quite rapidly because they are present there on the 1881 census. Henry is aged 65 and wife Anne is 55. Daughter Anne is 29, son Henry Robert is 25 and employed as a clerk in the office of his father’s rope works, as is youngest son Herbert, now 21. However, the fire and subsequent rebuilding had taken its toll on Henry’s health and a year later, on 11th March 1882, he died aged 66. In 1889, the death of Annie, the Websters’ only daughter was announced, aged 38:
The Times, Wednesday, Nov 06, 1889
Deaths. On the 4th at Morton House, Fence Houses, aged 38, Annie Webster, only daughter of the late Henry Robert Webster.
The 1891 census shows that Henry’s wife, Anne, now a widow aged 65 and “living on her own means” has moved out of Morton House to 8 Park Parade, Harrogate. With her are sons Henry Robert Ingham Webster (35) and Herbert (31), both ‘ropemakers,’ continuing the family business. Back at Morton House in the same census James Garden is now stated as being head of the household with his three daughters and three sons and various other staff members are also present.
By the 1901 census, Herbert (41) has returned to Morton House along with his mother (75). Following in his father’s footsteps, Herbert had started a position as a J.P. at Houghton-le-Spring in 1892 and in this census his profession is given as ‘rope manufacturer and Justice of the Peace’.
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 07 January 1903
Deaths. Webster. At Morton House, Fence Houses, on the 6th inst., aged 77 years, Annie, widow of the late Henry Robert Webster J.P., D.L., County of Durham.
From 1904, Henry jnr. took an interest in Burnmoor Cricket Club and became Vice President of the club. By 1909 he had relocated to Harrogate which is where we find him on the 1911 census at 1 Granby Road. Morton House then became the home of the Thompson family.
The Webster family grave is in Burnmoor St Barnabas' Churchyard. The gravestone is still present and legible, although very overgrown. The inscription reads:
In Memory of
Henry Robert WEBSTER, born 22 Oct. 1815, died 11 March 1882
Annie WEBSTER wife of above born 19 July 1825, died 06 Jan. 1903
Annie WEBSTER dau. born 08 Aug.1851, died 04 Nov.1889
Herbert WEBSTER, son, born 30 June 1859, died 09 April 1934
Henry Robert Ingham WEBSTER, son, born 16 July 1855, died 11 Jan.1936”
The above transcription and images below are courtesy of Mr Brian Chater, of Burnmoor.
The 1911 census for Morton house introduces us to Mr Richard Charles Thompson (53), shipbuilder and head of the household. He is living with wife Millicent Frances Thompson (33) and their children Mildred Clark Thompson (25) and Sybil Clark Thompson (24). Mr Thompson was head of the company of Messrs Robert Thompson and Sons, ship builders and ship repairers, Sunderland. It is noticeable from the differences between Millicent's age and Richard’s ‘children's’ ages that Millicent was Richard’s second wife. He had married Millicent F. Featherstonehaugh in Brighton in 1901.
In the years before World War I, the Thompsons integrated with local society and welcomed many people to Morton House. They would often throw open the grounds for garden fetes and various charitable and fundraising events which were often frequented by The Earl of Durham and his family.
In late 1915, Morton House was turned into the 14th Durham V.A.D. (Voluntary Aid Detachment) Hospital. In all, 27 hospitals were set up in County Durham and 17 in Northumberland. The Matron and Commandant of the hospital at Morton House was Mrs Millicent Thompson. She worked in close conjunction with Mrs Hall who was a fully-trained professional nurse and the wife of local doctor Dr J.R. Hall. Mrs Hall sadly passed away from pneumonia in November 1918. The dedication shown by those who worked in such establishments led to a number of women receiving awards and honours in 1917. Mrs Thompson was one such person:
Newcastle Journal, 23 October 1917
Women and War Work
More Local Names in Official List
A further list is appended of ladies whose names have been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services rendered in connection with the war:…..
…. Mrs M.F. Thompson, Commandant, Fence Houses, Morton House Aux. Hospital….
More information on the local VAD hospitals can be found here: http://www.donmouth.co.uk/local_history/VAD/VAD_hospitals.html
Newcastle Journal, 07 April 1917
Wedding At Burnmoor
The marriage took place on Thursday at St Barnabas’ Church, Burnmoor, of Miss Mildred Clark Thompson, second daughter of Mr R.C. Thompson, Morton House, Fence Houses, and Capt. Herbert Allison, commanding a remount squadron of Undercliffe, Sunderland. The Rev. S.M. Reynolds M.A., rector, performed the ceremony which was witnessed by a large congregation including wounded soldiers from Morton House Hospital. The bride was given away by her father and was attired in a dress of blue georgette and blue and gold brocade with a black hat and carried a bouquet of lily of the valley. She was attended by Misses Joan and Rachel Thompson (sisters), Miss Millicent and Jean Parrington and Miss Hester Haggie (niece of the bride). They wore net dresses and ecru coloured hats with blue ribbon and they carried Victoria bouquets of carnations and forget-me-nots and wore pearl brooches, gifts of the bridegroom. The bridegroom was supported by Lieut. C.B. Thompson R.N., as best man.
Richard Charles Thompson passed away in 1918, aged 60. His wife, Millicent, remained at Morton House until 1920 and she lived until 1942 and passed away in Thirsk district aged 64.
In 1920, the house passed to the Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries Ltd. and its next occupant was a senior member of this company, Mr Austin Kirkup. Mr Kirkup and family had previously been living in Manor House, Penshaw. He was born 2nd February 1873 and married Hannah Rogers in Lanchester in 1899. Their children were Austin Kirkup jun. (b. 4th December 1903), Roger Kirkup (b. 8th September 1907) and Barbara Kirkup (b. 1910).
As early as 1905, Mr Kirkup had been agent to the Lambton Collieries and by 1911, their chief agent. He was a leading figure in the mining-life of the area and he was involved in many local and charitable organisations. He was president of Fence Houses YMCA; president (1928-1948) of Lumley, Burnmoor and Fence Houses District Nursing Association; president of New Lambton Swimming Club, etc.
The Times, Monday, October 15, 1928
The engagement is announced between Austin, elder son of Mr and Mrs Austin Kirkup, Morton House, Fence Houses, Co. Durham and Margaret (Rita), elder daughter of Mr and Mrs A.T. Penman, Middle Brunton, Gosforth, Northumberland.
Similar to their predecessors, Mr and Mrs Kirkup, from the beginning of their time at Morton House made the grounds available for events such as garden fetes. A June 1929 newspaper article states that there was an attendance of “nearly 500” at one such event. A sad event occurred in 1929, connected to Morton House:
Durham Chronicle, 25 October 1929
Railway Accident At Fence Houses
Deaf Woman Found On The Line
An alarming accident on the railway line above Fence Houses Station was discovered on Tuesday night by a man who heard a child screaming. In the middle of the four-foot way, he found an elderly woman lying in a semi-conscious condition and severely hurt about the back and chest. The woman was identified as Mrs Ballance, wife of Mr Ballance, the gardener to Mr Austin Kirkup, of Morton House, Fence Houses. She had left Fence Houses Station with her young grand-daughter to walk along the line to her home and had apparently been struck by the train. She was known to be deaf and her spectacles were lying beside her. Her umbrella was found some distance away. The child apparently escaped injury because she was running ahead. Dr J. Robertson Hall ordered Mrs Ballance’s removal to the Sunderland Infirmary.
On 19th May 1931, the death of took place of Hannah Kirkup. Her death was announced as follows:
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 20 May 1931
Death of Mrs Austin Kirkup
Keen Worker For Burnmoor Church
The death took place rather suddenly yesterday of Mrs Austin Kirkup, of Morton House, Fence Houses, who had been in indifferent health for some time. Mrs Austin went to a private nursing home at Edinburgh for an operation from which she never regained consciousness. Mr Kirkup is well known as a director of the Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries Co. Ltd. Mrs Kirkup was an enthusiastic worker for the Burnmoor and Chilton Moor Churches and took a great interest in the local nursing association, of which she was a vice-president.
The following year, 1932, saw the marriage of Austin and Hannah’s only daughter, Barbara:
Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 01 September 1932
Solicitor’s Son Weds
Fence Houses Bride of Mr R.H. Middleton
The families of a well-known Sunderland solicitor, Mr R.S. Middleton, and colliery director (Mr Austin Kirkup) were united by a wedding which took place at St Barnabas’ Church, Burnmoor, today. Owing to the recent death of the bride’s mother, the ceremony was a quiet one and there was no reception, the guests assembling at church. The bride was Miss Barbara Kirkup, only daughter of Mr and the late Mrs Kirkup, of Morton House, Fence Houses, the bridegroom being Mr Richard Henry Middleton, only son of Mr and Mrs Middleton, of Thorncliffe, Thornhill Park, Sunderland. The Rev J.H. Shore (vicar of Chilton Moor), assisted by the Rev A.J. Gadd (rector of Burnmoor), officiated. Mr F.G. Fennell, organist, played the Bridal March from” Lohengrin” as the bride entered the church, and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March as the bridal party left after the ceremony. The service was fully choral, the hymns sung being “O perfect love” and “Thine for ever,” together with Psalm 67.
Cream Satin Gown
The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a gown of cream satin beaute of channel design, moulded in diagonal lines to the knees, the skirt sweeping in soft folds to form a short train at the back. Her veil of fine Brussels net was arranged from a plaited band of silver lame, with a circlet of orange blossom buds at the nape of the neck, finished at each side with flat rows of blossom. She carried a bouquet of pink roses and lilies of the valley. Her going-away dress was a tailored suit of Air Force blue with a felt hat to match, which had a bow of Malmaison pink. She was attended by three children – Miss Lilian and Master Leonard Barrett, of Sunderland (niece and nephew of the bridegroom) and Miss Joyce Rogers, of Silksworth (cousin of the bride). Miss Lilian and Miss Joyce wore Kate Greenaway dresses of cream satin beaute and lace hats. Master Barrett wore a cream satin suit of the same period. The best man was Mr Richard M. Lindsay (cousin of the bridegroom).
By 1937, Mr Kirkup was managing director of Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries Ltd. On the 1939 Register, Austin Kirkup and his son, Austin jun. are both present in Morton House along with staff members. Austin jun.’s profession is ‘merchant (timber)’.
In 1940, during World War II, Burnmoor Red Cross Working Party was established and had its headquarters in Morton House.
Mr Kirkup spent the rest of his life living in Morton House and he passed away on 25th July 1961, aged 88. He is interred in Burnmoor Churchyard.
Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, the National Coal Board was founded and it took over the United Kingdom's collieries on "vesting day", 1 January 1947 and so the ownership of Morton House transferred to the NCB at the same time.
In 1962, the year following the death of Mr Kirkup, the house and its farm were advertised for sale by the NCB:
Newcastle Journal, 21 July 1962
National Coal Board
Offer for Sale
Freehold with Vacant Possession
The attractive, substantially built residence known as Morton House, Fencehouses (within easy travelling distance of Newcastle-on-Tyne and Sunderland). Ideally sited in approximately 10 acres or thereabouts of well laid-out lawns, gardens and woodlands. The accommodation comprises: entrance hall, cloakroom, three reception rooms, dining room, library, kitchen, scullery, pantry, storeroom, seven large bedrooms, small bedroom, three attic bedrooms, dressing room, workroom, three bathrooms, W.C., basement wine store and fuel stores. Outbuildings include: laundry and garage accommodation for three cars. Extensive kitchen garden, greenhouse, potting sheds, etc. Water, electricity and main drainage laid on. Together with, or to be sold separately –
Morton House Farm, extending to approximately 30 acres or thereabouts, of meadow and grazing land with farm buildings, piggeries, etc. and three substantial cottages all with vacant possession with the exception of one cottage. Permission to view only by appointment.
Further information and details may be obtained on application to the Area Estates Manager, No, 2 Area, National Coal Board, Durham Division, 1 Thornhill Park, Sunderland.
The house was purchased by the Berriman family, in whose possession it remained until 1988. After that date, it was owned by various commercial companies, such as The Northern Motorists' Association, Albany Administration and Arnott Insurance.
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