A pair of historic 16th and 17th-century timber-framed buildings which are now home to English Heritage's regional offices. The buildings represent excellent examples of half-timbered merchant's houses so typical of the Jacobean period. The interiors of Bessie Surtees's house feature wonderful plaster ceilings and oak panelling, with period furniture on display.
Bessie Surtees
Bessie Surtees House is famous for one particular event. The eponymous young lady was the daughter of Aubone Surtees, a prominent Newcastle banker. She wanted to marry a young man named John Scott, but her family objected to the match.
On 18 November 1772, Bessie eloped with Scott, escaping through a window of the house that now bears her name.
The young couple fled to Scotland, where they were married. Scott became a lawyer and eventually rose to become Chancellor of England. Happily, the Surtees family was reconciled with Bessie, and actually settled money on her (a bit late for the wedding ceremony, but still ...). It is interesting to view the house today and guess which window it was that Bessie escaped through to join her beloved.
About Bessie Surtees House
Address: 41-44 Sandhill, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, NE1 3JF
Attraction Type: Historic Building
Location: Currently open weekday office hours.
Location map
OS: NZ251638
Photo Credit: Michael Preston, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence
HERITAGE
We've 'tagged' this attraction information to help you find related historic attractions
and learn more about major time periods mentioned.
Find other attractions tagged with:
17th century (Time Period) - 17th century (Time Period) - Jacobean ()
NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low to exceptional) on historic interest
Holy Jesus Hospital - 0.2 miles (Historic Building) 
Low Elswick Church Tower - 1.3 miles (Historic Church)
Benwell Roman Temple (Hadrian's Wall) - 2.2 miles (Roman Site) 
Segedunum Roman Fort (Hadrian's Wall) - 3.4 miles (Roman Site)
Denton Hall Turret (Hadrian's Wall) - 3.5 miles (Roman Site)
Jarrow Hall - 5.4 miles (Family Attraction) 
Jarrow Monastery - 5.5 miles (Abbey) 
Washington Old Hall - 5.9 miles (Historic Building)
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