Lifestyle

Couple transform ‘derelict’ 140-year-old mansion into $1.1 million home

David Benjamin
Greystonedale Mansion before it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for $394,000 (£300,000) in May 2022, with plans to turn it into their ‘forever home’. Over the next 24 months, the retired couple would go on to invest $289,000 (£220,000) in the mansion for a complete refurbishment of the eight-bedroom property. The pair then decided to instead turn the property into an Airbnb haven after it proved to be ‘too big’ for them, opting to build and live in a small cottage in the garden instead. (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion before it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
The restoration itself took two years – from May 2022 to 2024 – with the project even featuring on a TV show for Channel 4, called Renovation Nation. It was not all smooth-sailing, however. During this time the couple lived in a caravan and Joanne, an ex-social worker, revealed that for six months of their renovation the couple looked after Geoff’s dad who was fighting cancer. (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
The couple decided to fit the mansion with its very own ‘disco kitchen’, a games room, andeven replanted the one-acre private garden. The mansion now houses up to 14 guests, listed on Airbnb to be used for parties and other celebrations. The new price-tag? An eye-watering $1,100,000 (£850,000). (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion before it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
Joanne from Whitley Bay, near Newcastle, Tyneside, said about the renovation: ‘I’m absolutely delighted with the end result. For months we slept in servants quarters as when I was in the house I kept expecting someone to tap me on shoulder and ask me to leave. I absolutely love the garden – I’m super proud of that as when we bought the property there was only one tree left with no plants, no grass.’ (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion before it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
Joanne said the mansion was left empty for 30 years before they decided to take a chance on the fixer-upper. Joanne ‘fell in love’ with the sprawling property on their first visit describing it as a ‘doll’s house’. The builder of the mansion, Frank Smith, is said to have died from the effects of making varnish just nine months after the home was built, and the house still retained much of its original charm, as well as issues due to the age of the mansion. (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion after it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
Joanne revealed the house had ‘no electricity, gas, or windows’ when they bought it – it also had holes in the roof that needed ‘patching up’. She went on to say: ‘We had to replace or upgrade pretty much everything. We replaced ceilings and added fancy plaster work, added two bathrooms. There was a lot of work to be done – it was worth it though.’ (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion after it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
Now, the house is dazzling and warm; perfect for a special occasion. Describing the restoration process, Joanne describes her approach to upgrading the house as thrifty: ‘I’m a recycler – everything in the house is second hand – my kitchens, bathrooms, as much as it can be, even the plants in the garden are second hand. When we put the house back together, celebrations were front of mind.’ (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion after it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
The couple lived in the mansion for a year before deciding to list it on Airbnb, and have now built a small cottage at the back of the property where they live. Sounds like the dream, right? Joanne loved having family over, but for the couple ‘it was just a little bit too big’. ‘When you turned the heating on it was like switching on a jet engine,’ Joanne describes. (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)
Greystonedale Mansion after it was restored by Joanne Shiels and her partner Geoff Bell. Photo released May 12 2025. A retired couple have transformed a once 'derelict' 140-year-old mansion into a stunning ?1 million party house. Joanne Shiels, 60, and her partner Geoff Bell, 61, bought the crumbling Greystonedale Mansion in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, for ?300,000 in May 2022. Over next 24 months they gave the eight bedroom property some much-needed TLC investing ?220,000 for a complete refurbishment. They fitted it with its very own ?disco kitchen?, a games room, and a replanted the one-acre private garden - it also fits up to 14 guests.
The mansion, which first opened to guests in September, has become increasingly popular for hen and stag parties, as well as other family celebrations. Joanne can’t help but be pleased about the results: ‘Business was slow to start, but it has gone a bit crazy in the last few months. It’s mostly booked for the summer, up until Christmas really, we’ve got big plans for the outside and will be adding small things bit by bit.’ (Picture: Joanne Shiels / SWNS)

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