Seaham Hall

Seaham Hall is now a spa Hotel in County Durham, England. It was once owned by George Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry, although for much of his life he lived at Plas Machynlleth, his wife's home in Montgomeryshire.

History
Seaham Hall was one of the many properties acquired by Charles William Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry through his second marriage to Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest. She was one of the greatest heiresses of the time. She stood to inherit nearly 65000 acre.

The title Viscount Seaham was created as a courtesy title for the eldest son of the marriage, who became Earl Vane on his father's death; however, when the 4th Marquess of Londonderry died childless Earl Vane inherited the Londonderry titles and his eldest son took the courtesy title Viscount Castlereagh.

The family did not spend much time at this residence but used their Irish house - Mount Stewart, which was more impressive. In 1815 the poet Lord Byron married Anne Isabella Milbanke at Seaham Hall.

Benjamin Disraeli visited Seaham Hall in 1861.

The Londonderrys developed one of the County Durham estates into what is now the modern harbour town of Seaham. This town was designed to rival nearby Sunderland.

The house became a hospital during World War I, closing in 1978. During the 1980s and 1990s it was redeveloped as a hotel, a nursing home and finally a spa hotel.

In 1984, it was acquired by the Jalal family (Mr. Kusia Jalal) of Sunderland who worked at rebuilding, renovating and returning the deteriorated building to its former glory. His vision, determination and entrepreneurial spirit in using local skilled workforce to develop an establishment that most had abandoned was key to its survival today. Mr jalal of a well known engineering family was of Arab descent and married to a local girl Mrs Jean Jalal ne Jean Donaldson of Southwick and had 4 sons Shamil, Sameir, Monear, Robbie all of who also became well known engineers. They were survivors of war-torn Iraq of the 1980s. The family's grandchildren include Cameron Jalal, Broke Jalal, Oriana Jalal, Gracon Jalal, Sophie Jalal, Kieran Jalal, Kei Jalal & Luke Jalal.... It was opened in 1985 as the Seaham Hal Hotel and this remained in the hands of the Jalal family of Anglo-Arab Descent for nearly 6 years whereby the people of Seaham were given the opportunity to once again experience memories and the heritage of the building and its grounds. In 1991; it was sold by the Jalal family to Dr Mullier, a local doctor who also owned Tara House; an old people's residential home and was officially converted to en old peoples home in 1991.