Renovation project reveals hidden wartime history

Several thousand soldiers lived at Belsay Hall in Northumberland during World War Two

A project to renovate a stately home has uncovered hidden artefacts left by soldiers who lived there during World War Two.

When floorboards were lifted during £9m renovations at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland, items like telegrams, cigarette packets and notes were found.

Some of the men who trained there were sent to France in the early years of the war and were evacuated at Dunkirk.

Volunteer Tony Lamsdale, who heads a new wartime tour at Belsay, said: "Some of the everyday objects we found have told us so much more about what life was like there for those men."

Many of the items were found during a recent renovation project called Belsay Awakes

"There isn't an awful lot of detail about who lived at Belsay but we do know the first regiment moved there in September 1939 and from letters we know they were there throughout the war," he explained.

"Two of my favourite items were a brush used for cleaning boots in a part of the hall we didn't know was used, and an envelope with a note scrawled on it, just a couple of little glimpses into the past."

A wartime time bus ticket and a telegram were found under the floorboards

Melanie Hills, English Heritage's community engagement manager, said: "We also found lots of graffiti and even mundane things like holes in the wall which would have held a dartboard with the scores scribbled next to it.

"We are still unravelling the story of Belsay and what we've found tells us so much more about the men who were there during the war so it's really special to be able to share that with our visitors."