skip to main content
The Association of British Counties

Gazetteer of
British Place Names

The definitive reference source to Great Britain. Explore over 280,000 places.

 Menu  Menu

Search the Gazetteer

Are the results not as expected? Modify your search term or change the scope to refine your search.
   Search for a place that:

Bell Hall, Yorkshire   (Heritage Site)

Bell Hall is a heritage site in Yorkshire, in the East Riding. It is within the council area of York.

Type: Heritage Site
Historic County : Yorkshire
Division: East Riding
Lat, Long: 53.886528,-1.08899
Grid Reference: SE599437
Police Area: North Yorkshire
Council Area: York
Country: England
 Peruse Yorkshire on Wikishire
View on full map


Bellister Castle, Northumberland   (Heritage Site)

Bellister Castle is a castellated 19th-century mansion house attached to the ruinous remains of a tower house at Haltwhistle in Northumberland. The property stands on a mound which may have been the motte of an early motte and bailey castle from the 11th century. A moated hall house may have existed on the site in the 13th century and a substantial tower was added to the western end in the 14th century. A survey of 1541 records a tower house occupied by Blenkinsop (of the family of nearby Blenkinsop Castle) in a 'measurable good' state of repair. It is within the council area of Northumberland. More...

Type: Heritage Site
Historic County : Northumberland
Lat, Long: 54.960448,-2.469258
Grid Reference: NY700629
Council Area: Northumberland
Country: England
 Peruse Northumberland on Wikishire

The Blenkinsop family sold their estates, including Bellister, in 1697 and the castle was thereafter held by several different owners. In about 1699 the property was enlarged into a three-storey castellated house. A substantial rebuild by architect John Dobson in 1826 created an imposing castellated east front and further alterations took place in 1890 and in 1905 following serious fire damage in 1901.

The older parts of the property were allowed to fall into decay and remain ruinous. According to legend, Bellister is home to the ghost of a murdered minstrel, known as the Grey Man of Bellister. The minstrel was reputedly savagely killed by the hunting dogs of the Lord of Bellister, and today he wanders the castle grounds. In the grounds is an old sycamore known as The Hanging Tree, where, during the Civil War, royalist cavaliers are reputed to have hung defeated Parliamentary troops.


View on full map