As part of North-East Food Fortnight and the Government's Your Countryside Your Welcome - which aims to attract people back to the countryside following the foot-and-mouth crisis - The Northern Echo is running a series of articles highlighting places to visit to find top-class food.

Philip Young meets Lady Juliet Gray to find out her secret recipe for success.

THE stately image of Eggleston Hall is not one normally associated with a thriving modern business. Set amidst the scenic splendour of Teesdale, County Durham, the hall attracts several thousand visitors a year.

And many of those leave having been tempted by the quality home-made produce on offer - which is developing a growing reputation.

The hall, on the outskirts of Eggleston village, near Barnard Castle, has a long tradition of producing good food.

The home of the Gray family for almost 90 years, its gardens are open to the public as is a thriving shop selling home-made foods and produce.

Its present incumbent, Lady Juliet Gray, is the driving force behind its success and is determined to build upon its culinary reputation.

Judging by some of her predecessors, it is easy to see where she has inherited her skills in the kitchen.

The hall was bought in 1916 by Sir William Gray, whose mother, Rosemary, opened a finishing school at the end of the Second World War. Its cookery school, which flourished until 1992, was rated as one of the country's finest.

Today, Lady Gray is adapting the family business to modern needs. She said: "There is no longer the need of a cookery course which lasts a year.

"In keeping with demand, we are running a month-long foundation cookery course and day courses in cookery and flower arranging, attracting famous lecturers like Channel 5's Rosemary Shrager and George Smith, who was flower arranger to Princess Grace of Monaco."

Lady Gray has also been quick to spot a huge demand for quality food in Teesdale.

Visitors to the caf at Eggleston Hall, where much of the food can be bought either fresh or frozen, can enjoy locally produced cake, biscuits, honey, cheese, ice-cream and home baked cakes. The shop also boasts an array of gifts and cards.

Lady Gray said: "It is hard to keep a large house running without opening the doors."

"I love the place. We are so lucky to live in such beautiful surroundings and I see our work as securing the hall for future generations to enjoy."

And aside from the shop, caf, flower arranging service and courses, Eggleston Hall provides bed and breakfast and confidential catering for dinner parties.

Her butcher, Fred Simpson, of Cockfield, sources all meat locally and fish is delivered fresh from the sea off Hartlepool.

* For details of courses, opening times and the Christmas preview, please call (01833) 650115.