Milkwell Burn hamlet

Site of Milkwell Burn hamlet. There was a hall here known by various names (Milkwell Burn Hall, Surtees Hall and Black Hall). This was the home of famous writer of country tales R.S. Surtees, who later moved to Hamsterley Hall. The Surtees family had owned the Milkwell Burn estate since the reign of Charles II (1660-85). The hall was demolished in 1956 and its fine oak staircase was sent to the Gort family (Lord Gort of Hamsterley Hall was Surtee's grandson) in Cork, Ireland. Remains of the hall can still be seen in the wood adjoining Black Hall Farm.