Ushaw Barn
Introduction:
I know what you're all thinking, another Ushaw thread, great... This is a part of the site that is rarely reported on though, just like the pool we found in December last year! I'm sure people will have been in here before though, but I'd might as well put up a report to go with the other two I made of the main buildings and chapel, and the pool just for site completion, these reports can be found here:
The Seminary and Chapel
The Pool
That said who knows, Ushaw seems to be one of those places where we discover something new every visit!
History:
Wikipedia: In 1804 Bishop William Gibson began to build at Ushaw Moor, four miles west of Durham. These buildings, designed by James Taylor, were opened as St Cuthbert's College in 1808. There was a steady expansion during the nineteenth century with new buildings put up to cater for the expanding number of clerical and secular students. In 1847, the newly built chapel, designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was opened. This was followed by the Big Library and Exhibition Hall designed by Joseph Hansom, 1849-1851. The Junior House, designed by the distinguished architect, Peter Paul Pugin, was added in 1859. St Cuthbert’s Chapel, designed by Dunn and Hansom, was opened in 1884, replacing an earlier one byAugustus Welby Northmore Pugin, which the seminary had then outgrown. The Refectory was designed and built by E. W. Pugin. The final development came in the early 1960s with the opening of a new East wing, providing additional classrooms and single bedrooms for 75 students. The main college buildings are grade II listed, however the College Chapel is grade II* and the Chapel of St Michael is grade I.
My Bit: The above is a general history of the sites origins, but the barn itself was constructed alongside the seminary so that the monks who lived and worked their could be self sufficient and provide for themselves. The Barn seized to operate as part of the seminary, in 1972 and is now a listed building, this is due to the rarity of finding a barn that has been designed to match the design of the seminary. The barn has sty's for pigs, and cattle and also has stables for the horses that would have worked the fields, as well as a large area for hay storage for feeding and bedding the animals. The site was added to English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2013. As things stand, the site has been leased to the North of England Civic Trust and they are looking at the possibility of developing the site to establish Heritage Skills Institute.
Pictures:
The Exterior, looking from the road toward the barn, in the foreground the outdoor pig pens can be seen.
Inside the barn on the top floor, this area was used for the storage of bedding and food for the animals.
Up the ladders we came across these little baby chicks, I managed to get a shot without disturbing them, I'm not sure whether they're Pigeons or Starlings? Anyone know?
There where quite a lot of these old sacks lying around too, personally I find this sort of thing really interesting!
Down stairs where the last remains of the old belt driven power system.
The Roofing alone was something to behold, the timber beams are pretty impressive!!
Moving downstairs to the Pens and Stables...
Pig Pens!
Water trough...
Moving on now to the downstairs for a look around the stables!
There's still quite a few interesting items littered about the place, we found these down in the stables...
Stable Balm...
Medication for poorly cattle!
And to finish off with a shot of the Stables for the working horses...
And that's all from here, I understand this won't be of interest to everyone but I really enjoyed my wander round, the place has a charm and a lot of character, all the Victorian timber work and old fashioned stables really made it seem like a special little find!
Also on the subject of lovely Victorian timbers, be careful if you decide to visit, I did put my foot through the floor at one piece, so stay safe!
Cheers for reading!
TAW
Introduction:
I know what you're all thinking, another Ushaw thread, great... This is a part of the site that is rarely reported on though, just like the pool we found in December last year! I'm sure people will have been in here before though, but I'd might as well put up a report to go with the other two I made of the main buildings and chapel, and the pool just for site completion, these reports can be found here:
The Seminary and Chapel
The Pool
That said who knows, Ushaw seems to be one of those places where we discover something new every visit!
History:
Wikipedia: In 1804 Bishop William Gibson began to build at Ushaw Moor, four miles west of Durham. These buildings, designed by James Taylor, were opened as St Cuthbert's College in 1808. There was a steady expansion during the nineteenth century with new buildings put up to cater for the expanding number of clerical and secular students. In 1847, the newly built chapel, designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin was opened. This was followed by the Big Library and Exhibition Hall designed by Joseph Hansom, 1849-1851. The Junior House, designed by the distinguished architect, Peter Paul Pugin, was added in 1859. St Cuthbert’s Chapel, designed by Dunn and Hansom, was opened in 1884, replacing an earlier one byAugustus Welby Northmore Pugin, which the seminary had then outgrown. The Refectory was designed and built by E. W. Pugin. The final development came in the early 1960s with the opening of a new East wing, providing additional classrooms and single bedrooms for 75 students. The main college buildings are grade II listed, however the College Chapel is grade II* and the Chapel of St Michael is grade I.
My Bit: The above is a general history of the sites origins, but the barn itself was constructed alongside the seminary so that the monks who lived and worked their could be self sufficient and provide for themselves. The Barn seized to operate as part of the seminary, in 1972 and is now a listed building, this is due to the rarity of finding a barn that has been designed to match the design of the seminary. The barn has sty's for pigs, and cattle and also has stables for the horses that would have worked the fields, as well as a large area for hay storage for feeding and bedding the animals. The site was added to English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register in 2013. As things stand, the site has been leased to the North of England Civic Trust and they are looking at the possibility of developing the site to establish Heritage Skills Institute.
Pictures:
The Exterior, looking from the road toward the barn, in the foreground the outdoor pig pens can be seen.
Inside the barn on the top floor, this area was used for the storage of bedding and food for the animals.
Up the ladders we came across these little baby chicks, I managed to get a shot without disturbing them, I'm not sure whether they're Pigeons or Starlings? Anyone know?
There where quite a lot of these old sacks lying around too, personally I find this sort of thing really interesting!
Down stairs where the last remains of the old belt driven power system.
The Roofing alone was something to behold, the timber beams are pretty impressive!!
Moving downstairs to the Pens and Stables...
Pig Pens!
Water trough...
Moving on now to the downstairs for a look around the stables!
There's still quite a few interesting items littered about the place, we found these down in the stables...
Stable Balm...
Medication for poorly cattle!
And to finish off with a shot of the Stables for the working horses...
And that's all from here, I understand this won't be of interest to everyone but I really enjoyed my wander round, the place has a charm and a lot of character, all the Victorian timber work and old fashioned stables really made it seem like a special little find!
Also on the subject of lovely Victorian timbers, be careful if you decide to visit, I did put my foot through the floor at one piece, so stay safe!
Cheers for reading!
TAW
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