Our Rooms

Bensham Grove offers a warm, welcoming and unique environment for company events, meetings family and community gatherings, and weddings.

As well as the Community Hall,  Hut, and Pottery Studio, there are three restored ‘Arts and Crafts’ rooms to choose from, offering scope for everything from small meetings to larger conferences for up to 100 people.
The whole site is largely accessible and has good wifi available to everyone.

Please see our table of prices here. Or contact us directly on 0191 433 6450.

The Dining Room

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This is the room which mostly portrays its Arts and Crafts background. Influenced by friends of the Spence Watsons such as William Morris, Myles Birket Foster and William Bell Scott, to name just a few, the room is full of period features. A glossy wooden ceiling surrounded by little tiles is an imposing presence, Morris, Marshall and Faulkner tiles adorn the fire-place, and beautiful lady musicians depicted in stained-glass glow in the light of the windows. At the time this was still a ‘gentleman’s room’ where the men would sit smoking cigars and pipes whilst discussing politics, art and music, hence the subtle colours of the room. The rich blue curtains have been made and embroidered by the needlework volunteers.

The Sitting Room

The Dining Room

A large bright room which would have been used mainly by the ladies and where afternoon tea would have been served to visitors such as Fridtjof Nansen the explorer, who played love songs on the piano to his wife. William Morris wallpaper helps to create a light atmosphere and complements the garden beyond the windows. The original long windows dating circa 1850 when the extension was built, would have at one time looked right over to Ravensworth. Considerable restoration has been done to the ceiling. New glass panels over the interior door take their inspiration from the original stained-glass portrait in the garden door. Glass, curtains and copper door plates were all made by volunteers.

The Library

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Glowing like a jewel with its rich wall-paper, mahogany-coloured shelves, and sumptuous curtains, the library is situated in the oldest part of the house resulting in its use as a friendly meeting place from the early 1800s to the present day. Morris, Marshall and Faulkner tiles in the fireplace, together with various Victorian inscriptions, point to additions circa the 1870s. This is a cosy room and holds memories of earnest discussions and tranquil reading and poetry sessions. The ‘what-not’ on the mantle-piece is an exact copy of the lost original and the beautiful curtains were made by the needlework volunteers.

Rooms can be booked individually or altogether. The grounds can also provide a pleasant environment for breaks in the summer months.

The Conservatory

Conservatory photo

Added after the 1900, this room would have been an orangery for growing exotic plants and fruit in the time of the Spence Watson family. During the 2012 restoration the Conservatory had an impressive makeover. This consisted of a hand-made and decorated ceramic floors, and new stained glass windows and door plates, reflecting the skills of the then current students in a very similar fashion to the Arts and Crafts ethos of handmade and expressive decoration.

The Hall

The Hall photo.

Built in 2004 this multipurpose space can be rented as one large space or as half of the space when the dividing doors are closed.

There are a range of tables and chairs (including round tables with white chairs), available, display screens for presentation, underfloor heating, yoga mats and an indoor carpet bowls system for community use.

The Hut

The Hut

The Hut been used for so many things over the years (dancing classes to parent and toddlers) and is believed to have been built by unemployed men in the 1930s.
It is currently used as a practical crafts space which includes silversmithing and stained glass courses but has capacity for hire and would make a good workshop for woodwork or construction skills.

The Pottery

Pottery pics
This space is one of the busiest areas of the site where courses, clubs and groups are held every single day.

Courses are currently supplied by the Councils Learning and Skills team and by Bensham Grove to adults and family groups. The Pottery staff and volunteers also offer taster sessions during many of the Centre’s open events . . . check out our Facegroup group Bensham Grove Pottery.

Room Hire Prices

Please see our prices here. Or contact us directly on 0191 433 6450.

PLEASE NOTE: Room availability will vary according to term time dates.

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