A Story of Change: Ravenstone Through Time
Between the historic villages of Dilston and Corbridge in Northumberland’s countryside sits Ravenstone, a property whose story intertwines with the very fabric of English history. The land beneath its foundations whispers tales of Roman times, when nearby Corbridge - known as ‘Costopitum’ or ‘Coria’ - marked the northernmost town of the Roman Empire, strategically positioned at the junction of Stanegate and Dere Street.
In 1839, the land that would become Ravenstone was divided into three modest agricultural plots. Plot 128 belonged to John Flint, Plot 127 to Cuthbert Leighton (occupied by John Smith), and Plot 126 to Thomas Chambers (farmed by William Cowan). The first house on the site, known as ‘Ladycutter’s Villa’, appeared after 1851 but was later demolished to make way for Ravenstone in 1877.
Tithe Survey Map, 1839 (The National Archives)
The first family to grace these halls were the Lawtons. Benjamin Carr Lawton, a 65-year-old engineering contractor, shared the home with his wife Mary and son Jesse. Lawton’s legacy reached beyond Ravenstone’s boundaries - his firm, Rush & Lawton, had helped construct Newcastle’s High-Level Bridge in 1849, pioneering the world’s first combined rail and road traffic structure.
London Evening Standard - Thursday 19 October 1882 (British Newspaper Archive)
By 1889, the Stephens family began their chapter at Ravenstone, one that would span decades. Daniel Stephens, a prominent shipowner and broker, transformed the property into a bustling Victorian household. The 1891 census reveals a home alive with activity - Daniel and his wife Mary Vittery Stephens raising their children with the support of three dedicated servants, while hosting various visitors including solicitor Thomas Gee.
Ravenstone — Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891 (The National Archives)
Newcastle Journal - Wednesday 10 January 1945
(British Newspaper Archive)
The Stephens family wove themselves into the fabric of local life. Their daughter’s wedding in 1903 became a social highlight, with bridesmaids adorned in ‘dainty dresses of cream spotted net’ and a continental honeymoon capturing the elegance of the Edwardian era. Daniel hosted cricket club dinners at the Angel Hotel, while Mrs. Stephens demonstrated remarkable community spirit during World War I, knitting socks for soldiers and supporting the local Children’s Home.
By 1939, Ravenstone welcomed the Angus family, who would write their own distinctive chapter. Edmund Angus’s appointment as Colonel and deputy lieutenant for Durham in 1945 brought prestige to the property. However, it was his wife Bridget who perhaps left the most unique mark - her prize-winning goats, particularly the undefeated champion ‘Ravenstone Titania’, brought agricultural acclaim to the estate in 1961.
In 1995, Peter Barratt, son of the renowned building company founder Sir Lawrence Barratt, acquired Ravenstone. His influence extended beyond the main house, as he adapted nearby buildings to create Dovecote House. Through the early 2000s, the property saw further transformations under the care of the Squires, who refreshed its interiors from 2013.
Today, Ravenstone stands as a testament to the evolving story of Northumberland. Each family who has called Ravenstone home has contributed to its rich tapestry of history, from the engineering achievements of the Lawtons to the agricultural triumphs of the Angus family. It remains a living chronicle of English country life, demonstrating how a house can grow and change while maintaining its essential character through the centuries.
Ravenstone 2018