Ushaw College (or St. Cuthbert's College, Ushaw) is situated about four and a half miles North West of Durham city and, since its foundation in 1808, has been primarily concerned with educating students for the Catholic priesthood.

It is a direct descendant of the English College at Douai in France which was founded in 1568 by William (later Cardinal) Allen.

Douai College & William Allen     

Ushaw' current appearance

  and  

is somewhat different from that in 1828.

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One of Ushaw's most impressive buildings is St. Cuthbert's chapel. It is said to have been very "handsomely done" since its architects were Hansom and Dunn. It replaced an earlier Pugin chapel on the same site and was first used in 1884.
Perhaps Ushaw's most famous statue is that of Our Lady, Mother of Help, which is in the ante-chapel to St. Cuthbert's.

The College crest is made up of three elements:-

1. The three coneys (on the right of the crest) are from the family crest of William Allen.
2. The small Celtic cross in the top left corner represents the College's patron saint, Cuthbert. A cross like this was found in his coffin when it was opened some time after his death.
3. The larger St. George's cross represents the English Martyrs, especially the Douai students who came back to England and were then executed for being Catholic priests.

This page has not been produced by the College itself but my one of its alumni (1961-71) who was (when this site was constructed) also the Treasurer of St. Cuthbert's Society, the society for Ushaw's former students.

Brendan M. Hodgson


email     B.M.Hodgson@durham.ac.uk