Close House is a country estate near Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland. The estate contains a Grade II* listed former mansion house, which is currently a private residence, and Close House Golf Club. Overview A monastic house occupied the site in the 14th century. A later house on the site was sold by the Read family in 1626 to Robert Bewicke (1573–1641) a Merchant Adventurer of Newcastle on Tyne, who was Sheriff of that city in 1615 and Mayor 1628 and 1637. The Bewicke family held the estate for over 300 years. The house was the home of Calverley Bewicke (1755–1815) who was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1782 and Member of Parliament for Winchelsea 1806–1815. In 1779 he demolished the house and replaced it with an imposing mansion house. This was possibly designed by Newcastle architect William Newton. From 1906 the Hall was let out to tenants and the Hall and estate were sold in 1953. In 1960 the Hall and park were acquired by Kings College, Newcastle. The university carried out refurbishments and built a 9-hole golf course on the park in 1962. In 2004 the university sold the Hall to the present owner, Graham Wylie, who opened the property as a hotel in 2005. In 2014, Graham Wylie converted the mansion house into his private residence and closed the hotel. The grounds currently has two 18 hole golf courses – one at championship level, a 9 hole pitch & putt course, a driving range with attached PGA academy, plus the No.19 clubhouse and restaurant. Close House was the venue for the British Masters, one of the leading professional tournaments on the European Tour, in both 2017 and 2020. History Calverley Bewicke (1755–1815) built Close House in 1779. He was the eldest son of Sir Robert Bewicke (1728–1771) and inherited the Close Estate when his father died in 1771. He was lieutenant colonel of Durham militia and Member of Parliament for Winchelsea. He married Deborah Wilkinson in 1777 but unfortunately she died two years later. In 1781 he married Margaret Spearman whose portrait by Sir William Beechey is shown. She is standing by the window holding a portrait of her deceased husband Calverley in her right hand. Margaret was born in 1761 and was the daughter of Robert Spearman (1703–1761), a theologian. Her father died the same year she was born. She was raised by her mother Ann at "Old Acres"