David AllanGrade II listed Ashburne House, built by Edward Backhouse (1781-1860), around 1833 and overlooking Backhouse Park, Sunderland in NE England.
Originally from Darlington, Edward Backhouse was a Quaker philanthropist and writer on church history.
This building and the land around it was donated to Sunderland Corporation in 1922 with the stipulation that the house itself should be used as a teaching college or hostel.
It became the School of Art in 1931, later the art faculty of Sunderland Polytechnic and finally part of the University of Sunderland in 1996.
The university’s Faculty of Arts, Design and Media vacated the building in 2012 and it was eventually sold.
A £1m restoration project has seen the listed building converted into a mixed-use development of contemporary office space for the client and three high end family homes.
#england #sunderland #daffodils #spring #march2026 #photography
Originally from Darlington, Edward Backhouse was a Quaker philanthropist and writer on church history.
This building and the land around it was donated to Sunderland Corporation in 1922 with the stipulation that the house itself should be used as a teaching college or hostel.
It became the School of Art in 1931, later the art faculty of Sunderland Polytechnic and finally part of the University of Sunderland in 1996.
The university’s Faculty of Arts, Design and Media vacated the building in 2012 and it was eventually sold.
A £1m restoration project has seen the listed building converted into a mixed-use development of contemporary office space for the client and three high end family homes.
#england #sunderland #daffodils #spring #march2026 #photography
