Cosin's Library (University Library)
COSIN'S LIBRARY (UNIVERSITY LIBRARY), PALACE GREEN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1121382
- Date first listed:
- 19-Oct-1962
- List Entry Name:
- Cosin's Library (University Library)
- Statutory Address:
- COSIN'S LIBRARY (UNIVERSITY LIBRARY), PALACE GREEN
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Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-02-24
- Reference:
- IOE01/03607/03
- Rights:
- © Mr Bob Cottrell. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1121382
- Date first listed:
- 19-Oct-1962
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 10-Mar-1988
- List Entry Name:
- Cosin's Library (University Library)
- Statutory Address 1:
- COSIN'S LIBRARY (UNIVERSITY LIBRARY), PALACE GREEN
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- COSIN'S LIBRARY (UNIVERSITY LIBRARY), PALACE GREEN
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- City of Durham
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ 27343 42284
Details
DURHAM AND FRAMWELLGATE PALACE GREEN NZ 2742 SW (West side)
14/351 Cosin's Library 19.10.62 (University Library) (formerly listed as CV II* Cousin's Library)
Library. 1667-8 by John Longstaffe for Bishop Cosin who gave it for public use. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar dressings; roofs of sandstone flags. 2 storeys, one wide bay. Central door with 3 over 3 elliptical- headed panels in stone architrave under open and broken segmental scrolled pediment which contains coat of arms. 3-light stone mullioned-and-transomed window above has segmental-headed lights. Eaves string; high parapet, altered in C19 from battlements to conceal heightened roof pitch, has roll-moulded coping. 2-storey canted porch at right, added mid C19, has door in elliptical- headed surround. 3 elliptical-headed windows above.
Interior: internal porch has rear screen panelled in same style as door; inserted gallery on octagonal wood columns, with spiral stair of wood and iron. Bookcases, with dentilled cornices over frieze painted with portraits of philosophers and other famous men, alternate with narrow bays, now filled with shelves, which have swag decoration in segmental pediments on cornices. Scrolled pediment over internal porch has swag and coat of arms. 1845 stone chimney piece in Tudor style in memory of Bishop Thorpe. Small room added at rear in 1670 by Longstaffe.
A scheduled ancient monument.
Listing NGR: NZ2734342284
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 110407
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 12-Jun-2026 at 09:51:15.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.