Original plans for the hall date back to 1774, but it wasn’t until after the turn of the century that the hall and the estate started taking shape.

Records from the 1820′s list it as being known as Pilmore House. Back then the Pilmore Estate belonged to local historian Robert Surtees of Redworth, and was habited – around 1836 – by his more famous cousin, landscape painter Thomas Surtees Raine.

The current site we now know as Rockliffe Hall came under the ownership of Alfred Backhouse and major developments began. The estate consisted of three separate buildings: the mansion house, Pilmore Farm and Hurworth Grange (to the west of the farm.

Soon after gaining ownership, Backhouse swiftly commissioned fellow Quaker, and relative by marriage, Alfred Waterhouse to rebuild and re-landscape much of the main building and the estate. It was during this period that Pilmore House first became recognised as the Rockliffe Hall Estate.

Lord Southampton bought the estate and lived there on and off until 1948. A keen cricketer and sportsman, he formed the Rockliffe Park Cricket Club and played on a pitch which still exists in the same site today.

The estate was bought by the Brothers of St John of God and converted into a hospital. Some 18 years later, it came under compulsory purchase by Durham County Council and used as a community centre.

Rockliffe Hall had a brush with stardom and parts of the grounds were used as the backdrop for some scenes from the Michael Caine hit ‘Get Carter’.

In 1903 and again in 1974, some of the buildings were badly damaged by fire.

After standing empty for several years Rockliffe Park was bought by Middlesbrough Football Club. Its new owners have since established a new centre for football training facilities that matches its desire to be a top Premiership outfit challenging for major honours.

The first greens were sown for the Rockliffe Hall championship golf course.

The resort opened its doors as a luxury hotel, golf and spa resort on 23rd November 2009.