Old Shire Hall (University Office)
OLD SHIRE HALL (UNIVERSITY OFFICE), OLD ELVET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1310562
- Date first listed:
- 10-Mar-1988
- List Entry Name:
- Old Shire Hall (University Office)
- Statutory Address:
- OLD SHIRE HALL (UNIVERSITY OFFICE), OLD ELVET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-02-25
- Reference:
- IOE01/03607/27
- 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:
- 1310562
- Date first listed:
- 10-Mar-1988
- List Entry Name:
- Old Shire Hall (University Office)
- Statutory Address 1:
- OLD SHIRE HALL (UNIVERSITY OFFICE), OLD ELVET
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:
- OLD SHIRE HALL (UNIVERSITY OFFICE), OLD ELVET
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:
- NZ2774442322
Details
DURHAM AND FRAMWELLGATE
NZ 2742 SE
15/300
OLD ELVET
(South side)
Old Shire Hall
(University Office)
II
County Council headquarters, now offices. 1896-8 by H. Barnes and F.E. Coates
with extensions of 1905. Built by Rankin of Sunderland. Bright red engineering
brick with copious terracotta dressings; sandstone ashlar dressings on extension.
Graduated Lakeland slate roofs with terracotta crestings, copper dome. Baroque
style. Original building 2 storeys and basement, 9 bays with a subsidiary
bay set back at right. Centre and end bays project, the former under square
tower with drum and dome, the latter under high Flemish gables. Steps to central
entrance with wrought-iron screen in keyed and rusticated architrave. Round-
arched windows, paired on first floor, in similar openings. Balustrades below
first-floor windows. Floor entablatures, the upper with modillion cornice and
blocking course. Irregularly-placed corniced chimneys. Terra-cotta area
balustrades sweep up to form handrails for steps. Extension of 3 wide bays,
banded in stone and brick, the left bay projecting. Outer bays have attic gables.
Extruded porch with stone dome above high shaped parapet. Groups of 3 windows,
the lower in keyed and rusticated architraves, the upper segment-headed with
architraves and rusticated column jambs. Stone modillioned continuous eaves
cornice. Dentil-corniced chimneys.
Interior: rich decoration of terra-cotta and glazed tiles to halls, staircases,
principal rooms and ante-rooms. Good quality woodwork by Robson, wrought-iron
by Singer of Frome, throughout, and interesting stained glass: pictorial,
didactic and decorative.
Listing NGR: NZ2774442322
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 110352
- 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 26-Jun-2026 at 17:06:43.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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