DOCSLIB.ORG

Ushaw College

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Ushaw College Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Ushaw College Ushaw College Grid Reference NZ 218437 Date September 2017 Author Fiona Green Planning Status Identified in Derwentside Local Plan Not within Conservation Area Site Designations A number of PROW through the property Bounds Wall with Ball Courts at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw. Grade II* List Entry Number 1185962 Ushaw Home Farm Cart Shed South West of Farm Building. Grade II. List Entry Number 1116341 Chapel of St. Joseph Ushaw College. Grade II. List Entry Number 1185959 Former Junior Seminary Chapel of St. Aloysious, Ushaw College. Grade II* . List Entry Number 1299434 Former Junior Seminary at St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw College. Grade II . List Entry Number 1186191 Kitchen Garden Wall, Garden House, Ushaw College. Grade II. List Entry Number 1116419 Library with stair Ushaw College. Grade II*. List Entry Number 1185961 Ushaw Home Farm Main Block and Wall Attached, Ushaw. Grade II*. List Entry Number 1185963 Main Buildings at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw, Quadrangle, Museum, Infirmary, Class Rooms and Service Ranges. Grade II. List Entry Number 1186139 Ushaw Home Farm Pigsties and Walls attached to East. Grade II. List Entry Number 1185965 St. Cuthbert's Chapel. Grade I. List Entry Number 1116449 Turnip Chute c. 10 m north of Ushaw Home Farm, Main Block. Grade II. List Entry Number 1185964 Ushaw Home Farm, Former Carpenters Shop, South west of Farm. Grade II. List Entry Number 1116378 Windmill North West of College of St. Cuthbert. Grade II. List Entry Number 1185957 History Durham HER records the following features at Ushaw College. Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Ushaw College Chadwick Tomb, cemetery of Ushaw College, Ushaw (D35987) Former Laboratory, College of St. Cuthbert, Ushaw (D35327) Grave and Cemetery Cross, cemetery of Ushaw College (D36326) Handball Wall, Ushaw College (D365308) Mortuary Chapel of St. Michael ( D35998) Terrace Wall and Steps, Ushaw College ( D35263) Ushaw College Model Farm (D246) St Cuthbert’s Seminary at Ushaw College descended from the English College founded at Douai in 1568. During the French Revolution those seeking refuge at Douai from persecution in England had to return. In 1794 some of the refugees settled in County Durham Crook Hall in Consett, moving to Ushaw in 1808 when the college was founded. The college was built at Ushaw on land provided by a prominent local Catholic, Sir E.J. Smythe Bart. in 1799 (2002 Pevsner). The designed landscape was developed during the 19th-century including, parkland, The Bounds and Cat area (a sport unique to Ushaw), college cemetery, ornamental gardens, a lake, walled garden, open air swimming pool and model farm. John Gillow, the second president of the College (1811 – 1828) was thought to have ‘assumed the responsibilities of laying out the first “bounds” [playing fields] to the east of the buildings. The new Bounds wall, replacing the old college Bounds where the library was constructed, was built with racket courts in 1852 by Joseph Hansom. Milburn noted that new walks and gardens were laid out during the late 1830s following an earlier scheme which included the skating pond mentioned in 1817 (Milburn 1964). Description A disposal plan of 1799 in the possession of the College (Allotment on Ushaw Moor), shows the area where the college was built prior to development. The plan shows a scatter of buildings, Lambton’s Well, Town Well and the remains of a field strip system and a pond. Ornamental Gardens Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Ushaw College Ushaw College Archive includes a plan of c.1847 showing the seminary gardens. At the south front of the main building a parterre is shown divided from the park by a sunk fence; plantations on either side frame views across pasture towards the pond. John Storey’s lithograph of 1851 shows that shrub beds were introduced to the garden after it was drawn by Ramsay in 1821 (Ushaw College Archive). The terrace wall and steps were added to the College front in 1852. The 1858 OS plan shows the layout of the ornamental gardens and indicates that a large proportion of coniferous trees grew among the deciduous trees. A photograph of the ornamental gardens taken during the 1860s shows clearly defined curved shrub beds in the centre of the garden which are divided by wide, grass walks. The view of these beds is framed from the terrace by a pair of long shrub beds running parallel with the terrace (College Notes 192) Robert Tate, president of the College between 1863–1876 instigated a phase of planting in 1867; Milburn stated that ‘his planting of many more trees later afforded the buildings a welcome shelter from the raw east winds’. The bird’s eye view published in 1895 (fig.6) and the 1896 OS shows the gardens well protected by this time with mature plantations to the east and west of the gardens (Laing 1896). In 1934 Messrs. Fell of Hexham were consulted to advise the college gardeners on cutting back the rhododendrons which had got out of hand (College Notes 1949). The display of flowering shrubs was described as being particularly good. with gold and silver cypresses, variegated weigelias, golden and silver dogwood, purple and red leaved cherries, crabs, maples and hazels and the golden philadelphus to give more variety to the evergreen foliage. Azaleas were introduced with lilac, viburnums and brooms in various colours. For the spring months flowering jasmine, early flowering rhododendrons, daphnes, berberis, flowering currants, forsythias, almonds, crabs, cherries (some weeping varieties), tree lupins and cydonias. The flowering season of the rhododendrons was taken over by philadelphus, spireas, potentillas, hypericum and buddleias. Autumn colour was provided by the mountain ashes, crabs, cotoneasters, hollies and yews which survived from the earlier garden design (College Notes 1949). The 1939 OS reveals that the layout of the garden was also changed when the new planting occurred. The central area was divided to accommodate a series of paths around a central circle. The outer band of planting shown to be accessible at only two points near the terrace on the 1896 OS, was broken by paths in many places allowing a greater variety of routes around the shrub beds and to the pond. Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Ushaw College Cemetery A cemetery is shown on the 1858 OS. The cemetery was extended with funding from the Rev. Thomas Crowe in 1865 . By the time of the 1896 OS additional trees were shown planted across the lawn. A network of new paths linked the rear of the buildings to the burial ground and drive. The 1939 OS shows new paths forming a cross within the boundary of the burial ground. Infirmary The Infirmary was completed in 1856 and as the cloisters which formed the court are shown on the 1858 OS it is assumed they were completed during the same phase of work. The 1896 OS shows an octagonal shaped glasshouse within the court. The 1939 OS shows this relocated to the walled garden. The 1939 OS also shows the introduction of the West Wing on the footprint of the earlier cloisters and the ground has been graded into a bank at the south end. The quadrangle was completed in 1819 and the open court within was used as a bowling green. The Junior College was built in 1857 and incorporated a court (Laing) Games areas The 1858 OS shows a network of paths around this area providing access between the east front, north east wing and the ‘Bounds’ area used for games. The east front of the College overlooked lawns and The Bounds and towards the south across the ha-ha to the parkland. North of the Bounds lay the Drying area and beyond the walled garden. Setting to Junior School The Junior School was added to the college in 1857, by which time the ornamental gardens and park had been established. The south front of the Junior College overlooked open ground divided from the public road by a pair of fields which were remnants from the allotments shown on the 1799 plan. The boundaries of the fields were defined by tree belts. The junior college was sheltered from the west by a dense woodland belt. By the time of the 1858 OS areas of structure planting are strongly evident. The main college building was screened from the road lying south by extensive ornamental plantations. Setting to College Buildings Durham County Council Review of Historic Parks, Gardens and Designed Landscapes of Local Interest Ushaw College The 1858 OS shows the north section of the college buildings abutting a drive. North of the drive a large plantation of deciduous and coniferous trees runs parallel with the buildings providing shelter to both the Junior College and Main College. The 1896 OS shows The Rookery is crossed by a diagonal path leading towards the Gas Works at the east end. A building has been added adjacent to the drive and south end of the footpath to the Gas Works. At the west end of the Rookery a house was built outside the woodland. 'Cat' Areas (Areas for games of Cat unique to Ushaw) The 1 1858 OS shows a stone ha-ha separated lawns to the Cat areas from the parkland. Travelling up the drive, north towards the College, the visitor would have a brief view across lawns to the curve of the Racquet Court wall before entering woodland on either side and emerging at the forecourt.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download This PDF File
    Leah Tether and Laura Chuhan Campbell Early Book Collections and Modern Audiences: Harnessing the Identity/ies of Book Collections as Collective Resources This article summarizes and contextualizes the discussions of a workshop held at Durham University in November 2018. In this workshop, participants (includ- ing academics, students, independent scholars, special and rare books librarians, and archivists) discussed the notion of the collection (that is, the identity of collection as a whole, rather than just its constituent parts), and its potential to serve as a means of engaging both scholarly and public audiences with early book cultures. This study sets out a series of considerations and questions that might be used when tackling such special collections engagement projects, including ones involving more modern collections than the case studies examined here. In November 2018, the Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies at Durham University kindly funded a workshop to investigate the ways in which contemporary audiences have been, are being, and can become engaged with medieval and early- modern book culture through the provision and distribution of key resources. These resources range from published books to digital artefacts and editions; from replica teaching kits—such as scriptorium suitcases—to physical archives and repositories.1 The aim of the workshop, which was led by one of this article’s two authors (Leah Tether), was to build a picture of best practice to inform the teaching and commu- 1. The authors are grateful to Durham’s Institute for Medieval and Early Modern Studies for fund- ing the workshop, and to the administrators of the Residential Research Library Fellowships (jointly organized by Ushaw College and Durham University) that enabled Leah Tether to spend time in Durham in November 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • The University Library’S Special Collections, Indicating Date Range and Subject Coverage and Explaining the Means of Access to These Important Research Collections
    Printed Special Collections in Durham University Library: a Guide to Catalogues This guide is intended to list and briefly describe the main groups of printed material held in the University Library’s Special Collections, indicating date range and subject coverage and explaining the means of access to these important research collections. Information is also given on early printed book collections in other Durham libraries. THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY The University Library has rich collections of early printed books and local material, and some specialist collections of modern printed items. Some of these are associated with particular manuscript and archive collections, but finding-aids to the manuscripts and archives are outside the scope of this guide. The Library’s Special Collections are all housed in its Palace Green Section. Apart from local material, most of the collections described here are not available on open access but are produced on request for consultation in the Search Room at Palace Green. CATALOGUE ACCESS Records for a significant proportion of this material are not yet available on the Library’s OPAC (on-line public access catalogue), although the OPAC does include most post-1900 material and a steadily growing proportion of the earlier Special Collections books. Access to many pre-1801 items, however, is still via the old Author Catalogues at the Main Library and at Palace Green, supplemented by the various catalogues of individual collections listed below. For more information about the old Author Catalogues see the separate Guide to the Older Catalogues; it is important to read this thoroughly. For certain categories of material, however, quick finding-aids available in the Search Room at Palace Green provide the most rapid and comprehensive way to discover what is available; most of these cover the holdings of both the University and other Durham Libraries.
    [Show full text]
  • ISSUE 01 the New Alumni Community Website
    THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY THE FIRST WOMAN BISHOP IN THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND A DURHAM ALUMNA WHAT THE COLLEGES MEAN TO ME CHAIR OF COUNCIL REFLECTS PROFESSOR JOE ELLIOTT ON THE DYSLEXIA DEBATE Top 100 in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Review rankings 2015 2015 ISSUE 01 www.dunelm.org.uk The new alumni community website We’ll be continuing development of the website over the coming months, so do let us know what you think and what you’d like to see there. The alumni community offers useful connections all over the world, with a global events calendar backed by a network of alumni volunteers and associations, combining professional networking and social gatherings with industry-specific workshops and research dissemination. We have major events in cities across the UK and around the world, ranging from formal dinners, grand balls, exclusive receptions and wine tastings, to Christmas carol concerts, sporting events, family days and more. Ads.indd 2 19/03/2015 13:58 ISSUE 01 2015 DUNELM MAGAZINE 3 www.dunelm.org.uk The new alumni community website Welcome to your new alumni magazine. It is particularly gratifying to find a new way to represent the Durham experience. Since I joined the University two and a half years ago, I have been amazed by how multi-faceted it all is. I therefore hope that the new version of this magazine is able to reflect that richness in the same way that Durham First did for so many years. In fact, in order to continue to offer exceptional communication, we have updated your alumni magazine, your website - www.dunelm.org.uk - and your various social media pages.
    [Show full text]
  • Durham County News Autumn 2017
    www.durham.gov.uk DURHAM Autumn 2017 County News The magazine for people in County Durham Local people at centre of light creations Lumiere to brighten up What do you love Durham for about our county? the fifth time Win! Theatre and museum tickets The summer may be nearly over but there’s WELCOME plenty to look forward to in the coming to the autumn edition of months including Lumiere and the Durham Book Festival. Durham County News Lumiere is returning for its fifth outing this November and once again we’re working with leading arts charity, Artichoke, to Councillor Simon Henig, produce a festival that will again illuminate Leader of the Council Durham in spectacular and delightful ways. Getting people from across the county involved is fundamental to Lumiere’s success and one of the many reasons it is so special. We are passionate about making art accessible for all and in 2015, 860 children and young people took part in the festival’s community outreach programme – something we hope to build on even further in 2017. It is also particularly pleasing that this year will see an installation which illuminates the people behind so many of our vital services. You can read more about Lumiere’s community projects in our four page pull out. In this issue, we are also launching an exciting new campaign, Celebrating Durham, that will help us shine a light on what an extraordinary and enlightening place Durham is. Over the next 12 months we will celebrate the people, places, stories, history and heritage that make our county a Place of Light – a fantastic place to live, work and visit.
    [Show full text]
  • English Heritage / Heritage at Risk 2013 / North East
    Heritage at Risk is our campaign to save listed buildings and important historic sites, places and landmarks from neglect or decay. At its heart is the Heritage at Risk Register, an online database containing details of each site known to be at risk. It is analysed and updated annually and this leaflet summarises the results. Heritage at Risk teams are now in each of our nine local offices, delivering national expertise locally. The good news is that we are on target to save 25% (1,137) of the sites that were on the Register in 2010 by 2015. From Clifford’s Fort, North Tyneside to the Church of St Andrew, Haughton le Skerne, this success is down to good partnerships with owners, developers, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Natural England, councils and local groups. It will be increasingly important to build on these partnerships to achieve the overall aim of reducing the number of sites on the Register. Carol Pyrah, Planning and Conservation Director, North East Despite the continued recession, the number of sites that the HLF has continued to invest in the future of places on the Register continues to fall. The economic climate of worship by supporting vital church repairs. HLF funding may be uncertain, but successful partnerships across the has also secured a future for the Bowes Railway Trust by North East are removing many important heritage assets helping them develop training, education and heritage from the Register. This year we have successfully removed skills. These projects are being successfully delivered by 12 entries and offered £566,000 in grant towards 9 volunteers who deserve our support and encouragement.
    [Show full text]
  • Building Developments at Durham University Library
    a new help and information desk, short loan section, self-service circulation facilities, consulta- Building tion rooms and group study areas. A new entry system provides rich data on library use to inform developments decisions such as 24x7 opening and promoting the at Durham library to academic departments. A major new extension opened in April 2012, University creating an east wing to the library and increasing the size of the library by 42%. This added 500 new Library study spaces, all with access to power and data, bringing seating capacity to 1600. New group and individual study rooms and a third open access IT Dr Richard Pears room were provided. Academic Liaison Librarian Durham University Library Our two open access IT suites were completely [email protected] replanned to remove the 1990s layout of serried rows of grey tables and replace them with new The expansion and upgrading of library services attractive furniture, upgraded PCs and more at Durham University continues apace. There are attractive layouts. Enhancements to wireless five libraries in the university library network: provision support students throughout the library, the Bill Bryson Library, Queen’s Campus Library, with extra power available for laptop users. Sixty Leazes Road Library, Palace Green Library and laptops are now available for loan within the Durham Business School Library. library. THE BILL BRYSON LIBRARY A major aim of the extension and refurbishment was to bring as many of the library’s collections together into one building where they are available throughout library open- ing hours in up-to-date study areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Catholic Archives 1981
    CATHOLIC ARCHIVES No. 1 1981 CONTENTS Foreword His Lordship Bishop B. FOLEY 2 The Catholic Archives Society L.A.PARKER 3 Editorial Notes 5 Reflections on the Archives of the English Dominican Province B. BAILEY O.P. 6 The Scottish Catholic Archives M. DILWORTH O.S.B. 10 The Archives of the English Province of the Society of Jesus F.O. EDWARDS S.J. 20 Birmingham Diocesan Archives J.D.McEVILLY 26 The Archives of the Parish of St. Cuthbert, Durham City J.M.TWEEDY 32 The Lisbon Collection at Ushaw M. SHARRATT 36 Scheme of Classification for Archives of Religious Orders 40 Scheme of Classification for Diocesan Archives 43 The Annual Conference 1980 48 Illustrations: Mgr. Butti, Blairs College, 1930 16 Fr. W.J. Anderson, 1959 17 FOREWORD I warmly welcome this new publication: Catholic Archives. When I first learned of the founding of the Catholic Archives Society I felt a sense of deep relief, as many must have done. Every now and then one had heard of the irreparable loss of Catholic documents and wondered what future generations would think of us for allowing such things to happen. Mgr. Philip Hughes once stated that more than one third of the Catholic papers listed in the last century by the Historical Manuscripts Commission had been lost by the time he became archivist at Westminster. Lately, indeed, something has been done to avert further losses. The valuable papers of the Old Brotherhood still remaining have been gathered and bound and deposited for safe-keeping. A number of dioceses are now placing their records on permanent loan in county record offices established since the last war.
    [Show full text]
  • Development of a Methodology for Estimating Methane Emissions from Abandoned Coal Mines in the UK
    1. Development of a Methodology for Estimating Methane Emissions from Abandoned Coal Mines in the UK thinking beyond construction 1. DEVELOPMENT OF A METHODOLOGY FOR ESTIMATING METHANE EMISSIONS FROM ABANDONED COAL MINES IN THE UK May 2005 Reference: REPORT/D5559/SK/May 2005/EMISSIONS/V3 Issue Prepared by: Verified by: Steven Kershaw Keith Whitworth V3 BSc, PhD BSc Associate Associate File Ref: I:\Projects D0000 to D9699\D5559 DEFRA IMC White Young Green Environmental Newstead Court, Little Oak Drive, Sherwood Business Park, Annesley, Nottinghamshire, NG15 0DR. Telephone: 01623 684550 Facsimile: 01623 684551 E-Mail: [email protected] Environmental Consultancy WHITE YOUNG GREEN ENVIRONMENTAL This report has been prepared for and on behalf of DEFRA in response to their particular instructions, and any duty of care to another party is excluded. Any other party using or intending to use this information for any other purpose should seek the prior written consent of IMC White Young Green Environmental. The conclusions reached are those which can reasonably be determined from sources of information, referred to in the report and from our knowledge of current professional practice and standards. Any limitations resulting from the data are identified where possible but both these and our conclusions may require amendment should additional information become available. The report is only intended for use in the stated context and should not be used otherwise. Where information has been obtained from third parties, IMC White Young Green Environmental have made all reasonable efforts to ensure that the source is reputable and where appropriate, holds acceptable quality assurance accreditation.
    [Show full text]
  • Palace Green Market Place W Alkergate North Road Crossgate
    THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY Carrville Pity Me University Hospital Keiper County Hall Newcastle ➡ Freeman’s Quay alkergate W Durham Hild Bede St Giles Market Place Claypath North Road s Lane on Elvet Bridge Renny’ Elvet ➡ Bailey Colleges Darlingt Crossgate Palace Green DSU Maiden Castle Queen’s Campus Neville’s Cross Lower Mountjoy South Road 2017 ISSUE 03 Hill Colleges ISSUE 03 2017 DUNELM MAGAZINE 3 It is an exciting time to be part of, or connected to, Durham University. Durham is one of the world’s great universities and one of the most distinctive. Our future is bright. Nevertheless, we can do better and our new University Strategy 2017-2027 includes ambitious proposals to ensure our long-term sustainability and continued world-leading position in research, education and wider student experience. We remain committed to our core values, including The new Ogden Centre for our collegiate system, and will build on our Fundamental Physics strengths. But we are also prepared to make radical changes where needed. For our alumni members, we are committed to building an offer that will match the top performers in the UK, while learning also from the US and around the world. As part of the Dunelm community you will have improved access to the University’s intellectual, cultural and employment-related resources, as well as bespoke products and opportunities for networking. We will ensure that events are held in Durham, London, and around the world. And to allow you to 5 connect with our current students, we will deliver over time a properly resourced system of peer to peer mentoring.
    [Show full text]
  • Skull of Bede
    1 THE SKULL OF BEDE Authors Joanna Story: School of History, The University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH. Email: [email protected] Richard N. Bailey Abstract In 1831 Canon James Raine excavated Bede’s tomb in Durham Cathedral revealing a partial skeleton accompanied by a medieval ring. Three casts were made of the skull; the recent re-discovery of one of these casts provokes an examination of the authenticity of the remains and of antiquarian interests in craniology in the mid nineteenth century. Text I. The 1831 excavation Canon James Raine (1791–1858) excavated St. Cuthbert’s tomb in Durham Cathedral in 1827.1 The spectacular discoveries of that controversial investigation no doubt then encouraged him to turn his attention to Bede’s tomb in the Galilee chapel. In 1830 workmen dismantled the table tomb down to pavement level and then – with his well-honed sense of political timing – Raine excavated the grave beneath on the anniversary of Bede’s death on 27 May 1831. His report was published in 1833 as part of a history of the cathedral building, and this information can be supplemented by a draft of its text which is contained in Raine’s autograph annotations to his earlier book on St Cuthbert.2 According to Raine, when he opened Bede’s tomb, the human bones he found there were: Although by no means furnishing the full complement of those belonging to a perfect skeleton, appeared nevertheless to have been purposely arranged in their respective places, in a coffin of the full size, of which, though in a very decomposed state, there were numerous traces.
    [Show full text]
  • Land North of Ladysmith Terrace, Ushaw Moor, Co. Durham PDF 542
    + Planning Services COMMITTEE REPORT APPLICATION DETAILS APPLICATION NO: DM/14/00845/FPA Erection of 167 dwellings, associated infrastructure FULL APPLICATION and landscaping. DESCRIPTION : Taylor Wimpey North East. NAME OF APPLICANT : Land North of Ladysmith Terrace, Ushaw Moor, Co. ADDRESS : Durham Deerness ELECTORAL DIVISION : Colin Harding, Senior Planning Officer CASE OFFICER : 03000 263945 [email protected] DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE AND PROPOSALS The Site 1. The application site comprises approximately 5.5 hectares of agricultural land and semi derelict former allotments bordered by hedgerows to the northern edge of Ushaw Moor. Immediately to the south of the site lies Ladysmith Terrace which hosts detached garages of varying condition on its northern side and residential terraced properties to on its southern side. To the south east lies a relatively modern development of detached properties at Welby Drive. To the west of the site is agricultural land and to the north, a willow plantation. The eastern side of the site is bordered by Whitehouse Lane which runs on a north – south axis between Bearpark and Ushaw Moor. Beyond this road lie residential properties at Whitehouse Court, some of which face westwards, towards the site. 2. With Ushaw Moor lying on the northern side of the Deerness Valley, the site naturally slopes downwards from north to south to significant extent, with south eastern corner lying some 20m below the north western corner. 3. Ushaw Moor is located approximately 3 miles to the west of Durham City Centre and approximately 1 mile to the south west of Bearpark. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural and residential, with supporting community facilities scattered throughout the village.
    [Show full text]
  • Medieval Manuscripts in Ushaw College Library: a Fragmentary History
    Medieval Manuscripts in Ushaw College Library: A Fragmentary History Benjamin Pohl and Leah Tether (University of Bristol) The church completed, other buildings next Successive rose – a library well stored With many thousand books, encased in shelves Of cedar wood, in useful bindings all, And all arrayed with classic skill and taste. (An Old Alumnus of Ushaw College)1 The city of Durham is known internationally for its rich medieval manuscript collections, both in its Cathedral Library and in the University Library’s Special Collections on Palace Green, thanks in no small measure to the highly productive scriptorium and well-stocked monastic library of Durham’s medieval Cathedral Priory. Indeed, efforts are now well underway to recreate these collections and reunite their surviving books digitally, thus augmenting both access to and awareness of them on a global scale. Perhaps less well known is Durham’s other home for medieval manuscripts, located just a few miles from the peninsula upon which the aforementioned repositories are sited: the Big Library of the former Catholic seminary of Ushaw College near Ushaw Moor, founded in 1808. Ushaw’s Big Library is aptly named, for it easily – and quite deliberately – rivals, in splendour, size and contents, the great College libraries of Oxford and Cambridge.2 Built to house the College’s burgeoning book collections, its construction was completed in 1851 after a design by Charles and Joseph Hansom; a previous design by famed architect Augustus Pugin had been rejected, less for aesthetic reasons than precisely because it was deemed too small.3 Owing to its original purpose as a domestic library purely for staff and seminarians, Ushaw Library’s rich collections were not publicly accessible until 1 An Old Alumnus, Records and Recollections of St.
    [Show full text]