Cool Gardens: Former seminary’s garden of delights
It’s wonderful to stumble upon a garden that you haven’t visited before – especially when you were visiting for a completely different reason. Here’s the latest in my Cool Gardens series – Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, near Durham City.
The former Catholic seminary Ushaw College (before that, St Cuthbert’s College, Ushaw) closed in 2011. It reopened in 2014 as Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens as a tourist attraction. It also houses some of Durham University’s facilities. I visited as there was a huge (and very early) Christmas fair being held in the house. Only on arrival did I realise the scale of the gardens and had to look around.
As there are masses of old rhododendrons. It’s going to be worth a visit in spring. Recent restorative work has lengthened the season of interest with lots of late-flowering herbaceous perennials.
Ushaw Historic House – history of the seminary
St Cuthbert’s College was founded in 1808 near Ushaw Moor, County Durham by scholars from the English College, Douai. They fled France after the French Revolution. In 1799, the Northern District Bishop William Gibson bought the land from Sir Edward Smythe, a local Catholic. Ushaw College became affiliated with Durham University from 1968 and was the main site for the training of Catholic priests in the north.
History of the garden and falling into disuse
When the college opened, open fields and beech trees planted in the early 1800s surrounded it. In 1852, the formal gardens were laid out, pretty much as you see them today. The lake (known to students as ‘the pond’) was created as clay was dug out to make bricks to construct the main building.
When the seminary closed in 2012, the garden and grounds became overgrown. However, thanks to a team of volunteers, the gardens’ restoration and reopening happened in autumn 2014. Now paths wind through the ancient trees and flower beds that have been the trademark of Ushaw’s gardens for more than a century.
Ushaw Historic House – what’s new in the gardens?
A wonderful place to stroll at any time of the year, but new planting extends the season of interest (I visited in late October).
It’s a garden to take children to, as scattered around the less formal areas are wood carvings of British wild animals (and what looks like the Lambton Worm, a local favourite) by the North-East’s famous chainsaw carver Tommy Craggs. The lake, choked with reeds, is hard to see until you’re right upon it, so best to keep your children on a leash in that area!
Ushaw Historic House – Opening times, directions, etc
The buildings and chapels are also open to the public, and there is a wealth of ecclesiastical beauty in there and wonderful architecture and design, including some by Pugin.
- The Refectory Cafe: 11am-4pm; The Bounds Takeaway Cafe, 11am-3pm.
- Parking: Free in several car parks.
- Getting there: If using a SatNav, use DH7 7DW.
- Disabled access: There’s level access at the rear of the building, with disability access throughout the chapels and exhibitions.
- For more information on the buildings, current opening hours and entry fees, visit www.ushaw.org.
Read about Ushamw Flower Fest.
