Bailiffgate’s journey through history is remarkable. Once the Duke of Northumberland’s Commissioner’s house, it later transformed in 1903 into a school dedicated to training girls in ‘sewing, knitting, darning and other household work’—preparing them for lives as domestic servants, wives, and mothers.
How times change!
Today, as a luxury 5-star hotel, Bailiffgate is a place of comfort and relaxation—a world away from its past. Yet, we honour its history, naming our private dining room after its formidable first headmistress, Mrs Bowmaker—renowned for her strict austerity—while the Commissioner’s Bar pays tribute to its former inhabitants.
We invite you to explore the history of this beautiful Georgian building during your stay… though in far greater comfort than Mrs Bowmaker’s pupils once knew!
