Crook Hall built in the 13th century is one of the oldest inhabited houses in Durham. The Hall is a jumble of buildings reflecting its historical development. A medieval Hall merges into a Jacobean section with an attached Georgian house. The house is surrounded by 6 acres of romantic gardens laid out in a series of rooms such as the Shakespeare Garden, the Cathedral Garden and the Secret Walled Garden. Durham’s bustling market place is a short walk away and many who view the gardens describe it as a ‘peaceful oasis’. A fact that possibly led William Wordsworth and John Ruskin to visit the gardens for quiet contemplation.