Now, even though Vanbrugh didn't get to see the gardens, there are lots of his touches still here, aren't there?

Yes.

Um, his overall siting of the hall is probably his main thing.

It's situated on a, uh, the crown of a small ridge with commanding views over the north and the south, carved out with vistas so the north takes you right through to the Cheviots.

The south, there would've been views of Tynemouth Priory in the distance and then east down to the sea.

And then the house was designed to go up onto the flat roofs on the balustrade, so you're actually looking at the wider landscape.

[laughs] Do you know, do you know anything about how they would have used the garden?

Well, it was an extension of the hall for entertainment purposes.