Chapel of St Joseph at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw

Chapel of St Joseph, Ushaw College, Esh, Durham, DH7 9BL

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Overview

Chapel. 1852-4 by A. W. N. Pugin, completed by E. W. Pugin. Read the official list entry to find out more.

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1185959
Date first listed:: 24-Jun-1987
List Entry Name:: Chapel of St Joseph at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
Statutory Address:: Chapel of St Joseph, Ushaw College, Esh, Durham, DH7 9BL

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Date:: 2001-06-30
Reference:: IOE01/06147/04
Rights:: © Mr Thomas S. Bolton. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II
List Entry Number:: 1185959
Date first listed:: 24-Jun-1987
Date of most recent amendment:: 09-Jan-2014
List Entry Name:: Chapel of St Joseph at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw
Statutory Address 1:: Chapel of St Joseph, Ushaw College, Esh, Durham, DH7 9BL

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Chapel of St Joseph, Ushaw College, Esh, Durham, DH7 9BL

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: County Durham (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Esh
National Grid Reference:: NZ2182843729

Summary

Chapel. 1852-4 by A. W. N. Pugin, completed by E. W. Pugin

Reasons for Designation

The Chapel of St Joseph at St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural interest: the chapel and the canopy over the statue of St. Joseph were designed by A. W. N. Pugin although the chapel was completed under the supervision of his son E. W. Pugin; * Historic interest: the chapel was built to serve the domestic staff of the college, reflecting the scale of ambition in the flourishing Roman Catholic Seminary; * Group value: the chapel has a strong visual and functional relationship with the neighbouring listed buildings of the college.

History

St Cuthbert's College was opened in 1808 to serve as the Catholic diocesan seminary for the Northern District. It continued a lineage of training for the English priesthood established at Douai, France by Cardinal William Allen following Elizabeth I's Protestant Religious Settlement of 1559; its students and professors having been driven out by the French Revolution. The early buildings by James Taylor of Islington were formed around a courtyard with its final, west range completed in 1819. However, the middle years of the century saw Catholic ambition and confidence burgeoning after the Emancipation Act (1829), the arrival of Oxford Movement converts, the Irish immigration and the Restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy (1850). Both lay boys and "church students" were taught the faith according to the requirements for diocesan seminaries, laid down at the Council of Trent (1545-63). This was reflected in the college's remarkable expansion led by its 5th President, Monsignor Charles Newsham (1937-63). Newsham brought Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, Joseph and Charles Hansom and Edward Welby Pugin to build or rebuild chapels, the Exhibition Hall, the library, the Junior House, the museum, the infirmary, the laundry, the kitchens, the laboratory, the Bounds walls, the farm, the cemetery cloister and to carry out numerous alterations and additions to the existing buildings.

The Chapel of St Joseph was built in 1852-4 as part of this expansion, primarily for the use of domestic staff. Designed by A. W. N. Pugin it was completed after his death by E. W. Pugin who designed the marble housing Karl Hoffmann's statue of St. Joseph. This canopy was moved to the antechapel of the Chapel of St Cuthbert but returned when the new chapel was built.

The reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-5) to the formation of Catholic priests placed an increased emphasis on contact with communities and starting training later. As a result Ushaw experienced a sharp drop in numbers but developed strong links with the University of Durham, providing degree courses accredited by the University. The Junior College closed in 1973 and the college itself closed in 2011 although proposals are being developed for new uses related to Catholic education.

Details

Chapel. 1852-4 by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and completed by Edward Welby Pugin.

Materials: thin courses of squared sandstone with ashlar plinth and dressings; roof of graduated Lakeland slate with stone gable copings and crested ridge tiles.

Plan: 3-bay rectangular plan.

Exterior: decorated style. Cusped tracery in 2-light north and south windows; paired 2-light west windows, with geometric tracery, under six-foil light and top blind quatrefoil. Large 5-light east window with geometric tracery, also under blind quatrefoil. All windows have dripmoulds. Steeply-pitched roof has overlapping stone gable copings with gabled kneelers; stone cross finials.

Interior: painted plaster over panelled dado; panelled roof with stencilled decoration, on long stone-corbelled wall-posts. Painted Gothic-lettered borders around window heads. Caen stone reredos with high-relief panels under crocketed canopies, and altar with 3 large high-relief panels, by E. W. Pugin.

To left of altar a canopy 20 feet high of stone and marble over life-size marble statue of St. Joseph by Karl Hoffmann. East window designed by A. W. N. Pugin c.1851, modified by J. H. Powell. Remaining windows by Hardman. C19 cast-iron radiator with low-relief rosette and palmette decoration and rinceau frieze.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 350527
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Laing, R C (ed) , Ushaw College: a Centenary Memorial, (1895)
Milburn, D, A History of Ushaw College, (1964)
St Cuthbert's Society, , Ushaw College 1808-2008: A Celebration, (2008)
O'Donnell, R, 'True Principles: Journal of the Pugin Society' in E W Pugin at Ushaw: The H T Brewer Bird's-Eye of 1856, (vol.iii, no. v, 2008)
Towers, E, 'Ushaw Magazine' in Architects At Ushaw And Their Work, (1952)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.