Ushaw College

Ushaw College is a former Catholic seminary and is well known for it's Georgian and Victorian Gothic architecture and 19th century chapels. The outside of the house is very grand, but it is the interior which is really stunning.

The college Chapel was designed by Augustus Pugin and building of the Chapel started in 1844. Pugin designed over 40 churches in a Neo-Gothic style and was the architect for the Houses of Parliament and the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben.

It is a pretty spectacular Chapel with grand ceilings, bright bold colours and stunning stained-glass windows.

The theatre is another really beautiful room, which was built as part of the original building in 1804. There are still performances held there today.

There is also a stunning library at Ushaw which houses one of the most comprehensive collections on Catholicism in the 18th century, with over 30,000 items. Visits to the library are by appointment only, and details on how to arrange a visit are on the Ushaw College website.Ushaw College website

Wherever you look, however, there is something spectacular to see, whether it's the architecture, windows or really detailed huge wooden doors.

Ushaw was affiliated with Durham University from 1968 and was the principal Roman Catholic seminary for the training of Catholic priests in the North of England. In 2011 the seminary closed due to a shortage of vocations, and reopened as a visitor attraction in 2014.

As well as the stunning college to admire, there are 30 acres of grounds to wander around, which contain a wide variety of plants and sculptures. There is also a cafe, and art exhibitions are displayed at Ushaw, which change regularly. Best to check the website for up to date info.