Hindmarsh Hall, Alnmouth
Alnmouth
Last Updated:
5 Jan 2026
Alnmouth
55.386744, -1.611843
Site Type:
Granary, Chapel, Place of Worship, Village Hall
Origin:
Status:
Extant
Designer (if known):
Listed Grade II
Upon first reflections this place looks like a Presbyterian Chapel. There’s a half truth in that, but it’s quite a complex and winding history.
To understand it we need to look at Alnmouth as a whole. Back in the 17th and 18th century this was one of the most important coastal settlements in Northumberland. Timber, wine, slate and general goods were brought in for the whole of Northumberland, but huge amounts of grain was brought in and stored in massive granaries to then be shipped off.
It’s hard to believe, but that’s what this was - a granary, and perhaps one of the oldest here. It was named Gallon Granary, and was a large stone storehouse for farmers to drop off their product and earn their keep. It dates from the 18th century when Alnmouth was at its zenith.
However, the fortunes of Alnwick reversed in 1806 when a huge storm formed a new channel for the Aln to run. Originally the village continued to Church Hill, but this was severed removing the oxbow. Some trade did continue, but the shallow depths combined with the advent of the railways and general technological advancement rendered the port far more minor than its heydays.
The abundance of granaries in the village meant this one got repurposed, for a short period, into a corn exchange and then a church. Little is known about it being a corn exchange and unfortunately I find scant reference to it. In 1859 the Anglicans remodelled the front to feature those trademark lancet windows into the thick sandstone. A bellcote was added (a very clearly a different source of stone) also. The pointy arch doorways also give it away!
It was funded and adapted by the Duke of Northumberland, with the Archdeacon of Lindisfarne performing the first service. It was estimated to hold up to 300 people upon opening in 1859, and would support the swathe of bathing visitors who came to the village in the summer season alongside the locals. Bare in mind it predates the second St John of 1876, and before this conversion the last place of worship here was in the late 18th century. That St John one was washed into the sea (see below).
St John’s did however end up closing this chapel of ease. In 1876 the building was again rendered redundant, so became the village hall which has remained in service since. Nowadays though, it’s called the Hindmarsh Hall after the family who bought it.
Listing Description
The two plans shown here depict Alnmouth from the 1840s (on the tithe plan) and the 1860s (on the first Ordnance Survey). Alnmouth develops as a linear ribbon-like village due to the constraints between the Aln and the rising ground & dunes on the east. You'll also notice the long and thin burgage plots extending behind the properties which only accentuate how old this settlement is - probably Saxon times and developed into a port and market thereafter.
Interestingly however you'll notice it isn't a traditional village. It was binded as a junior to the parish of Lesbury. The crossing direct to Hipsburn was only constructed in the 1860s, so all traffic was routed through via Lesbury so was never its own parish. This is especially the case after the demise of St John in the late 18th century which went hand in hand with the short periodic decline of the village. Hindmarsh Hall provided an interim solution as people gained more interest in visiting for pleasure.
The 1866 plan formally recognises Hindmarsh Hall as a chapel of ease, making use of one of the granaries after Alnmouth's importance faded. It means it also recognises itself once again as autonomous of Lesbury, especially given the construction of the bridge at the same time.
By the 1890s the establishment of the new St John rendered our building redundant. It then went on to play its own civic role for village meetings, events and the like but retains its prominence on the main street. It almost certainly played a spiritual role though - you only have to look at the frontage. Other social infrastructure also developed within the few decades - the bedding in of the golf club, hotels and pubs dominate the main lane and its own municipal infrastructure appears like the Gas Works.
Hindmarsh Hall in November 2025
Hindmarsh Hall dominated the south end of the village, historically where the port and market was likely situated. Source: © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection EPW038807 flown June 1932
A view from 1951, with Hindmarsh Hall one of the southernmost buildings on the main street. The village is tightly packed in like sardines. Source: © Historic England. Aerofilms Collection EAW041297 flown 12 November 1951