Open weekends, free entry - check opening times here

The Bartens of Norton Lees

What’s in a name? The BARTEN family of Norton Lees, 1589-1668. Bishops’ House, as it is known today, has been variously described as an ‘old Mansion near Norton Lees’ [1818] and ‘Old Hall at Norton Lees [1823] in published engravings after a sketch by Edward Blore. By 1862 it had become celebrated locally as ‘an […]

Me Lost Me + Nathalie Stern

Me Lost Me is the electronic music project of Newcastle based musician Jayne Dent, current Artist in Residence at internationally renowned concert venue The Sage Gateshead, and included on BBC Introducing North East’s 2020 Tips List. Described by BBC Radio 6’s Tom Robinson as a “brilliant peculiar noise”, Me Lost Me delights in experimenting with […]

Back where it belongs

Back where it belongs.. It has been satisfying to see experts from various fields converge on Bishops’ House and during the last decade there have been real advancements in our understanding of the history of the ‘Old Hall at Norton Lees’ (as the building was once known) and its occupants. Archaeologist Ken Dash laid down the […]

A short history of the area

Bishops’ House was built in 1554, during the short but turbulent reign of Mary Tudor (1553 to 1558) and appears to be the last surviving building from that era in the tiny village of Norton Lees. Norton Lees was a village in the parish of Norton which included a large part of what is now […]

Free history talk: Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Medieval Bestiary

Elaine Mein demonstrates as Agnes Peterkin “Weird and Wonderful Creatures of the Medieval Bestiary” When it came to fabulous animals like the unicorn, dragon or griffin, it is debatable whether medieval people believed that such creatures really existed. Some undoubtedly did (as some still do today). As for fabulous creatures mentioned in the Bible, (as unicorns […]

Free history talk: “Benjamin Creswick: Ruskin’s Walkley Working Class Hero.”

Monday 24th February 7.30pm – 9pm  “Benjamin Creswick: Ruskin’s Walkley Working Class Hero.” Benjamin Creswick was a Walkley knife grinder (1853-1946) who Ruskin hailed as a “youth of true genius”. He became Ruskin’s protégé and went on to become an influential figure in the Arts and Crafts movement and a much commissioned public sculptor. Free […]

Anura, Painted Faces + Persona

Anura is the downer pop project of Brendan Landis (fka Hey Exit). Sometimes heavy and melancholic, sometimes airy and delicate.“I’m used to the solo guitar workouts from Brooklyn’s Brendan Landis to be somewhat noise-oriented, but this one moves with heavy pop gauze layering that makes me think of Azusa Plain and the like – the […]

Joni Tuson, Shivelights & Rainy Day Woman

Joni Tuson is an incredibly gifted singer songwriter currently living in West Yorkshire; originally hailing from South Africa. She cites her influences as George Oryema, Baba Maal, Joni Mitchell, Eryka Badu, Kelly Joe Phelps and Cassandra Wilson amongst others. Joni has performed with many bands ranging in genre from soul, ska, funk and folk rock. Most […]

Me Lost Me, May Days in Barcelona & Antique Dol

Me Lost Me is the solo electronic music project of artist/musician Jayne Dent; a mesmeric mix of thudding rhythms, lush vocal drones and haunting melodies. Her live performances are atmospheric, dark and playful experiments in sound and storytelling, taking inspiration from a wide range of genres including folk music, electronica, pop, noise and ambient music. […]

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