Baron Ravensworth

Baron Ravensworth, of Ravensworth Castle in the County Palatine of Durham and of Eslington Park in the County of Northumberland, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1821 for Sir Thomas Liddell, 6th Baronet. The title of Baron Ravensworth had previously been created in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1747 for the fourth Baronet, but this had become extinct in 1784. The second Baron of the second creation was made Earl of Ravensworth and Baron Eslington, but these titles also became extinct, in 1904. The Liddell family descends from Thomas Liddell, a wealthy merchant of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and supporter of Charles I. In 1642 he was created a Baronet, of Ravensworth Castle, in the Baronetage of England. His grandson, the third Baronet, represented Durham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the House of Commons. In 1720 he acquired the estate of Eslington Park. His grandson, the fourth Baronet, sat as Member of Parliament for Morpeth. In 1747 he was created Baron Ravensworth, of Ravensworth Castle in the County Palatine of Durham, in the Peerage of Great Britain. However, this title became extinct on his death while he was succeeded in the baronetcy by his nephew, the fifth Baronet.

The latter's son, the sixth Baronet, represented County Durham in the House of Commons. In 1821 the barony of Ravensworth was revived when he was created Baron Ravensworth, of Ravensworth Castle in the County Palatine of Durham and of Eslington Park in the County of Northumberland, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. His son, the second Baron, was Conservative Member of Parliament for Northumberland, North Durham and Liverpool. In 1874 he was created Baron Eslington, of Eslington Park in the County of Northumberland, and Earl of Ravensworth, of Ravensworth Castle in the County Palatine of Durham. These titles were in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. His eldest son, the second Earl, represented Northumberland South in Parliament as a Conservative. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the third Earl. On his death in 1904 both the barony of Eslington and the earldom became extinct. However, he was succeeded in the barony of Ravensworth and baronetcy by his first cousin, the fifth Baron. He was the son of Reverend the Hon. Robert Liddell, fifth son of the first Baron. As of 2010 the titles are held by his great-grandson, the ninth Baron, who succeeded his father in 2004.

Three other members of the Liddell family may also be mentioned. Henry Liddell, son of Henry Liddell, younger son of the fourth Baronet, was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. His daughter, Alice Liddell, was the eponymous subject of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Guy Liddell, grandson of the Hon. George Liddell, younger son of the first Baron of the second creation, was the wartime head of counter-espionage in Britain's MI5.

The Liddell family previously lived at Ravensworth Castle in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. This great stately home was almost completely demolished in the 1920s due to subsidence, ironically caused by the family's own coal mines, the profits of which had paid for its construction. The castle's stables, which survive in a ruinous state, were featured in the Restoration (television) programme on the BBC in 2003. The present seat of the family is Eslington Park near Alnwick in Northumberland.