Fire-damaged Ushaw chapel receives £400,000 restoration grant

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
An historic chapel hit by arsonists has received a much-needed restoration grant.

In July 2023, Ushaw, on the outskirts of Durham City, suffered major damage to its Grade II-listed Junior House and to the roof of the adjacent Grade II* St Aloysius Chapel. 

The chapel at Ushaw was hit by arsonistsThe chapel at Ushaw was hit by arsonists
The chapel at Ushaw was hit by arsonists | Submitted

Now, £400,000 from Historic England will pay for emergency works which will safeguard the fire-damaged former Catholic college from further deterioration. It also means restoration work can resume.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Since the arson attack in 2023, there has been further damage to the Junior House and St Aloysius Chapel, caused in part by the recent heavy storms.

The £400,000 grant from Historic England will fund emergency repair works to the roofs and masonry of both buildings, as well as the erection of a temporary roof to prevent further damage to the decorative plasterwork inside the chapel.  

A team of specialists will safeguard the siteA team of specialists will safeguard the site
A team of specialists will safeguard the site | Submitted

The chapel is part of a series of buildings at the former seminary. Ushaw closed as a seminary in 2011 due to dwindling numbers of those joining the priesthood and evolved into a visitor attraction.

Last year it hit 100,000 visitor numbers to its Georgian country house, neo-Gothic chapels, park and gardens - and it’s on course to exceed that this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Following the grant, building conservation specialists, Crosby Granger Architects, have been brought in to manage the critical restoration work.

Along with structural engineers, The Morton Partnershipthe team have developed a strategy to allow restoration works to begin.  Working with Lancashire based UK Restoration Services, it will mean a 12-week programme of clearance and stabilisation work. 

Much-needed stabilisation works can beginMuch-needed stabilisation works can begin
Much-needed stabilisation works can begin | Submitted

Repairs had originally started on St Aloysius Chapel in June before barn owls were discovered nesting in the roof space. Work was paused to protect the fledgling owls, who have now departed. This current phase of work is expected to be completed by January 2025.  

Scaffolding can then be erected to provide protection to the highly decorative chapel interior and allow the architects and engineers to inspect what is left. Designs for the reinstatement will then be drawn up and the whole cost of the restoration can be priced. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chloe Granger, director at Crosby Granger Architects and an AABC accredited conservation architect, said: “Ushaw played such an important role in the religious history of the north and with it, the most amazing collection of highly decorative Pugin chapels.

“We are now on with emergency work to St Aloysius chapel and later this summer we can take a good look at what damage has been caused, what needs to be done, and how we put it all back together.”

Phil Braithwaite, director of UK Restoration Services, said: “UK Restoration feel privileged and proud to work on and play an important role in stabilizing and reviving the Chapel and Southeast wing.

“UK Restoration will complete preventative, and protection works to ensure the beautiful damaged building does not become irreparable.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“These works play a strong part to enable the architects, Crosby Granger and structural engineers, The Morton Partnership, the ability to inspect the chapel internally and put a restoration rescue plan in place for the much-loved historic building.”

The full cost of the repairs is yet to be decidedThe full cost of the repairs is yet to be decided
The full cost of the repairs is yet to be decided | Submitted

Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens (also known as St Cuthbert’s College) occupies a special place in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in England. 

Following Elizabeth I’s Protestant Religious Settlement of 1559, many English Catholics went into exile, settling in the French town of Douai.

In 1568, the English College was established in the town to train English priests, which it continued to do until the French Revolution. The college’s dissolution in 1793 and the repeal of anti-Catholic laws in England led to the opening of Ushaw College in 1808. 

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As the direct successor to the English College at Douai, Ushaw College provides a line of continuity to the pre-Elizabethan Church in England.

Its role as the principal seminary for the North of England in the 19th and 20th centuries gives it a critical role in the revival of the Roman Catholic Church’s fortunes in England during this period.

Lucy Jenkins, Co-CEO at Ushaw, said: “We are delighted to be working with Crosby Granger Architects and UK Restoration Services to begin the important work of bringing St Aloysius Chapel back into use following the devastating fire last year.

“With their skills and expertise and the support of Historic England we are confident that we will make progress to protect the building from further damage”.   

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1873
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice