From October 1939 - January 1944 Wallington was the home of 150 girls evacuated from the Elswick area of Newcastle to the relative safety of the Northumberland countryside at Wallington.

Lloyd Langley, House and Collections Manager at Wallington, has been given privileged access to the diaries and photo albums of Lady Mary Trevelyan from the time of the girls stay and from this has put together a fascinating exhibition for visitors to enjoy.

The diaries record the various activities and challenges involved in looking after the girls during their stay, as well as giving a unique glimpse into the history of the time.

The children were housed at various locations around the property. In the attics and the bedrooms of the house, the long gallery (now the restaurant) and the YHA hostel (now the base camp).

During their time at Wallington, Lady Mary Trevelyan took an active part in the girl’s extra curricular activities, which included folk singing, dancing lessons and swimming lessons in the River Wansbeck.

A diary extract describes one day when a particular child takes her first swimming strokes as her parents watch from the banks of the river.

Some of the evacuees who stayed at Wallington are hoping to make the trip to see the exhibition themselves. It is hoped that their memories and adventures can be recorded in visitor’s book and that the National Trust bring together once again as many evacuees as possible and bring them together for a tea party in June to share memories and enjoy the beautiful place where they stayed.