A country retreat
Sir William Blackett (1657-1705) bought Wallington in 1688 as a country retreat from the family's main home at Anderson place in Newcastle. He knocked down the unfashionable pele tower on the site, originally built by the Fenwick family - only the ground floor of the medieval building, which he converted into the cellars of the current house, still survives.
The new house was a very basic building designed for occasional shooting parties rather than as a permanent home. It would have looked very different to the house we see today. It consisted of four ranges built around an open central courtyard. The upper floor was reached by ladders and had no internal dividing walls.
An excess of good cheer
Although the Blacketts knocked down the Fenwick house they continued the Fenwick tradition of hospitality. Sir William's son took this tradition to excess and employed six men simply to carry him and his drunken guests to bed after their grand parties. Upon his death he left debts of £77,000 and an illegitimate daughter, Elizabeth Ord.
Wallington passed to his nephew Walter Calverley on condition that Walter married Elizabeth and adopted the family name. Walter agreed to this and in 1728 Wallington passed to the 21-year-old Sir Walter Calverley Blackett (1707-77). Fortunately Sir Walter proved a better household manager than his uncle had.