It may be difficult to imagine the circumstances under which Lady Louisa found herself moving to Ford in 1859; recently widowed and childless through fate rather than will, Louisa nonetheless lost no time in commissioning the construction of the school for the benefit of the children whose parents lived and worked on the estate. Her […]

Now more than ever it seems we are being asked to remember how vital nature and the natural world is to our physical and mental well-being. Being in such a beautiful part of the world means we don’t have to go far off the beaten track to find beauty, peace and tranquillity; I can think […]

Multi-Skilled Rural Estate Maintenance Operative This is an exciting opportunity to work on a large rural Estate based in North Northumberland (www.ford-and-etal.co.uk) with a portfolio of 200 houses, farmsteads and a fully operational Grade-1 listed castle. We are looking for a multi-skilled tradesperson with construction, building, and joinery experience and a positive can-do attitude, to […]

After mutual consideration, the partnership of Ford & Etal Estates and Cheviot Brewery of the management of The Black Bull, Etal will be coming to a close to allow for a change of direction. This move will enable both parties to concentrate on their core business and The Black Bull pub will shortly be let […]

All the roofs in Etal were once thatched and very picturesque they were too. The downside was the ever-present risk of the thatch catching alight – the open fires and stoves needed for heating and cooking perilously sent sparks up and out of the chimneys. For this reason tiled roofs began to replace thatch at […]

A new pair of millstones has been fitted at Heatherslaw Corn Mill after a successful appeal on BBC News online and BBC Look North. The stones, which weigh over a ton each, were gifted by ADM Milling in West Yorkshire after John Murphy, who heard the BBC appeal, connected Heatherslaw Corn Mill with Richard Waring […]

The FitzClarence gates at Letham Hill have been reinstalled at Etal Manor after a six month absence for essential restoration work. Ollie Green, of Kelsey Metal Work in Greenlaw, undertook the restoration work as the gates had suffered considerable wear and tear; they were first installed some two hundred years ago. The gates were commissioned […]

On Thursday June 2nd, a beacon was lit at Watchlaw, forming part of the national chain of beacons to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. This was one of 1500 beacons across the nation. Visibility from the site at Watchlaw was excellent and beacons at Berwick-upon-Tweed and Coldstream could be seen. This historic event, […]

Furniture maker Rob Elliot, from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, is the first-ever winner of the Louisa Waterford Prize.  His stunning Flow Desk and Chair installation was unanimously selected for the 2022 Prize. The multi-disciplinary work of the 24 finalists was exhibited at Lady Waterford Hall over three days in early May. Winner Rob Elliot […]

Thanks to a generous donation, Lady Waterford Hall has been able to purchase a stunning portrait of Louisa, Lady Waterford, by James Rannie Swinton commissioned in 1851. Swinton (1816 – 1888) was born in Berwickshire and studied at Edinburgh’s Trustees’ Academy before being enrolled in the Royal Academy in London in 1840. He soon became […]

The FitzClarence gates at Letham Hill were commissioned by Lady Augusta FitzClarence, owner of Etal Manor from 1821 to 1876, as a surprise for her husband Lord Frederick FitzClarence, Lieutenant-General in the British army and an illegitimate son of King William IV. Sadly, Lord FitzClarence did not see this gift as he succumbed to illness […]

Our teams are working extremely hard to clear the damage from Storm Arwen but it may take some time to get to every part of Ford & Etal Estates. Please take care when walking on footpaths on and around the Estates and look out for paths damaged by falling trees.

Calling all foodies: a fantastic business opportunity has arisen to run the café at Heatherslaw Corn Mill from May 2021. It lies amongst a cluster of tourist attractions at Heatherslaw, on Ford & Etal Estates. The business is normally open seasonally, from late-March to early November, seven days a week and is offered on licence […]

Heatherslaw Cornmill Gift Shop on Ford & Etal Estates is recruiting for a reliable,capable and friendly sales assistant to work on Saturdays and Sundays.You will be working independently, opening up the shop, dealing with sales,stocking shelves, welcoming people to Heatherslaw Mill. Previous retail experience would be useful, but is not essential as full training willbe given. […]

The Northumberland Gazette (26 Nov, 2020) reported on much needed repairs that have been recently undertaken to keep the waterwheel turning at Heatherslaw Mill. Head Miller, Dave Harris-Jones, has seen orders increase by 250% on normal demand during the second lockdown and the waterwheel has been working hard to power the machinery. It is almost […]

Welcome to Ford, tucked away in the very north of Northumberland. This beautiful village is testimony to the philanthropic work of a tireless woman. A woman who was also tireless in her artistic achievements. But who was she? Dante Gabriel Rossetti described her as ‘an excellent artist’ who was ‘such a swell and such a […]