Once a Catholic seminary, Ushaw is now a registered charity operating as a vibrant heritage destination and creative hub. With its remarkable architecture, internationally significant collections and a warm, inclusive approach, Ushaw offers something genuinely distinctive within the North East’s cultural landscape.

Ushaw’s story spans more than 450 years. Its origins lie in the upheaval of the Reformation, when an English Catholic college was founded in Douai in 1568. Forced to flee during the French Revolution, the college returned to England and eventually settled at Ushaw in 1808. Over the next century, an extraordinary complex of buildings grew up around the original Georgian house and represent some of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the country, including the largest collection of work by four generations of the Pugin family.

Ushaw today operates as a mixed economy charity, generating all its income through a combination of activities. These include admissions and memberships supported by an events and exhibitions programme; venue hire; bed & breakfast accommodation; a business hub providing serviced offices and creative studio space; land income from its 500-acre estate, as well as the generous support of donors - individuals, business partners, trusts and foundations. This diversity supports financial resilience while ensuring the estate remains active and relevant throughout the year.

We will meet at 10:30 for coffee or other refreshments. The cost of these, but not lunch, is included in the booking fee. At 11:00 we will enjoy a guided tour of the chapels and associated buildings. At 12:15 we will gather for lunch (to be paid for on the day individually). Time permitting, we may walk in the gardens before 13:30, when we gather for a tour of the college’s magnificent Big Library, a breathtaking space designed by Joseph Hansom, with a curated viewing of up to 20 fascinating books and archival treasures.