A major two-year conservation project at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland has been completed.

Thanks to a grant of £3.4 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with support from other foundations and donations, the project has seen the repair and conservation of Belsay’s Hall, Castle, and Coach House, as well as the rejuvenation of the gardens.

Belsay Hall boasts Grecian architecture, a medieval castle, and 30-acre Grade I-listed gardens.

Now, after two years of dedicated conservation work, Belsay Hall’s original roof, which caused damp issues for over two centuries, has been replaced.

The medieval stonework of the castle has also been repaired, and over 80,000 new plants have been planted, with 35,000 alone in the Hall’s Woodland.

Mark Douglas, English Heritage’s Properties Curator, said: "Designed by Sir Charles Monck after a two year-long honeymoon taking in the classical sites of Greece, Belsay is one of the earliest Greek revival houses in Britain. "Although a remarkable architectural feat, having been designed according to Greek tradition in decimals, not feet and inches – and modelled on the still-standing Temple of Hephaestus in Athens – Belsay Hall’s concealed gutters proved, over the next two hundred years, to be its downfall. "It has been such a relief to finally banish the damp from the Hall and safeguard Belsay for future generations.”

John Watkins, English Heritage’s Head of Gardens and Landscapes, said: “Belsay Hall sits within an extensive Grade I picturesque landscape, with gardens both formal and wild leading visitors on a journey between the Hall and Castle. The stone used to build the hall was carefully quarried on site to form dramatic ravines, influenced by Sicilian quarries. "In the late 19th and early 20th century, the West Quarry was planted with newly imported exotic plants, many from Asia that continue to thrive in this extraordinary environment. "With the help of international plantsman and designer Dan Pearson, we have rejuvenated the more formal gardens and Hall Woodland Garden." Elsewhere on site, 'The Wildman', a medieval mythical figure featured on the coat of arms of the Middleton family who owned Belsay for over 700 years, will be brought to life through a projected animation and soundscape on the ground floor of the castle.

A new children’s play area has been restored and The Coach House building has been restored and transformed into a new café with its own renewable energy and rainwater harvesting.

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is incredibly inspiring to see that our funding continues to support some of the country’s most unique heritage sites, of which Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, with its picturesque surroundings brimming with exotic plants, is a wonderful example."