The Liddell Family

Mr. John M. Liddell, a prominent Tyneside building contractor purchased Linden Hall and its depleted estate in1963 by private treaty, all of the farms having been sold to their tenants prior to his purchasing the now 290 acres. John Liddell moved into Linden Hall with his wife Diana and 10-year-old daughter, who when older, lived in her own cottage in Linden Row.

The Liddells immediately set about refurbishing those parts of the main Hall, which were not original. They spent a lot of effort putting all the modern plumbing and services back within the Hall's structure rather than ugly external piping that owners since Bigge had installed. John Liddell also carried out a lot of stabilising work to the woodwork and roofs.

The one farm that still formed part of the Linden Estate was Home Farm, which consisted of two large cow byres (one a former granary), now the Linden Pub. It was here that cattle were housed for the provision of milk and butter for the Hall. The Liddells also employed three of Miss Muriel Adamson's former retainers for housekeeping duties, Mrs. Emily Ashurst, Mrs. Dorothy Cowie and her daughter Dorothy.

However, after 15 years at Linden Hall, John Liddell and his wife found the Hall and Estate too large for just a family house. They sold the Hall in 1978, to begin the final chapter of its fascinating history.

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