From "Herrington and its folk": A long line of Robinsons lived here with property at Cleadon, Hetton, Whitburn and Houghton but their principal business interests became centred on the quayside at Southwick where they were malsters. The last to live here was Ralph Robinson but in 1795 it was sold to William Beckwith from Thurcroft, Yorkshire. ..... In 1855 the hall was occupied by T W Panton, manager of Bishopwearmouth Ironworks. In 1871 W Moore, a solicitor was here. In 1894 William Lishman, colliery manager, was occupant, the Earl of Durham having by then bought the property. The Vaux family rented the hall in the early years of the 20th century The last occupant was the builder, Mr Harry Bell. In 1947 the property was taken over by the NCB The two-storied georgian building....was demolished in 1957-8 when the cellars, dating from about 1570 were exposed. My reference to the NCB considering converting the hall into a training centre in 1960 was a little inaccurate, I now recall that this was in the mid 1950s. Clearly the occupants of the hall should have appeared on the 1871 census. Hope that this helps. Alan Vickers