Bishop Cosin's Hall was a

college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering ...

of the

University of Durham Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charte ...

, opened in 1851 as the university's third college and named after 17th century Bishop of Durham

John Cosin John Cosin (30 November 1594 – 15 January 1672) was an English churchman. Life He was born at Norwich, and was educated at Norwich School and at Caius College, Cambridge, where he was scholar and afterwards fellow. On taking orders he was a ...

. It closed in 1864 due to a fall in student recruitment at the university. It was housed in an 18th-century building on

Palace Green Palace Green is an area of grass in the centre of Durham, England, flanked by Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. The Cathedral and Castle together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although initially not part of the site itself, Palace Green ...

which still carries its name.

History

The building

Archdeacon's Inn was built around 1700, as a city residence for the

Archdeacon of Northumberland The Archdeacon of Northumberland is a senior ecclesiastical officer within the Diocese of Newcastle. As such she or he is responsible for the disciplinary supervision of the clergy within the geographical area of the archdeaconry. History The firs ...

, who administered the Northern part of the

Diocese of Durham The Diocese of Durham is a Church of England diocese, based in Durham, and covering the historic county of Durham (and therefore including the part of Tyne and Wear south of the River Tyne, and excluding southern Teesdale). It was created in ...

(which in 1882 would become the

Diocese of Newcastle The Diocese of Newcastle is a Church of England diocese based in Newcastle upon Tyne, covering the historic county of Northumberland (and therefore including the part of Tyne and Wear north of the River Tyne), as well as the area of Alston Moo ...

). In 1833, the building was given to the

as the home of

University College In a number of countries, a university college is a college institution that provides tertiary education but does not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university. The precise usage varies ...

and the residence of the university's first students. The first students took residence in Michaelmas Term 1833, under the supervision of the Bursar. A hall was created on the ground floor of the house, with student rooms above and below. The building subsequently became known as "University House". In 1837,

Durham Castle Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England, which has been occupied since 1837 by University College, Durham after its previous role as the residence of the Bishops of Durham. Designated since 1986 as a cultural World Heri ...

was granted to the university and became the primary home of University College, with University House being retained as additional accommodation for the college.

Foundation of Bishop Cosin's Hall

In 1846, David Melville opened

Bishop Hatfield's Hall , motto_English = Either the first or with the first , scarf = , named_for = Thomas Hatfield , established = , senior_tutor = , master = Ann MacLarnon (2017–) , undergraduates = 1010 (2017/18) , postgradu ...

, initiating the pioneering practice of letting rooms furnished and serving food communally at a fixed price. This was intended to make university attendance far more accessible to students of limited means, compared to University College and the colleges of

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

and

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...

, where students were expected to furnish their own rooms and to engage servants to prepare their food. The high level of applications for admission to Hatfield Hall led the university to decide to establish a second hall to operate on the same basis, and in October 1851 Bishop Cosin's Hall was opened. Its name was in honour of

, Bishop of Durham 1660–72, and it is recorded as having used his heraldry. University House was transferred from University College to the new college as its home. The founding principal was Revd John Pedder, a Durham graduate who had previously been bursar at University College. In 1854 Pedder moved to become principal at Bishop Hatfield's Hall, and his place was taken by 28-year-old Revd

James John Hornby James John Hornby CVO (18 December 1826 – 2 November 1909) was an English rower and headmaster of Eton College from 1868 to 1884. Early life Hornby was born at Winwick, the third son of Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby and his wife Sophia Maria Bu ...

, a fellow of

Brasenose College, Oxford Brasenose College (BNC) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It began as Brasenose Hall in the 13th century, before being founded as a college in 1509. The library and chapel were added in the mi ...

and a noted rower. From 1859, Hornby was also vice-master of University College.

Closure

A collapse in student numbers in the late 1850s and 1860s led to financial difficulties for the university. In 1860, Hornby wrote to Henry Montagu Villiers, the newly appointed Bishop of Durham, requesting his aid in obtaining a royal commission to address the university's difficulties. The bishop replied expressing sympathy, but saying that he could not make any definite pledge of assistance. The commission took place in 1861-2 and made extensive recommendations, but did not have enough immediate effect to save Bishop Cosin's Hall, which was merged into

at the start of Michaelmas Term 1864 due to falling student numbers.Whiting, C.E. (1932). ''The University of Durham.'' London: Sheldon Press. The students in residence were transferred partly to University College and partly to Bishop Hatfield's Hall, while Hornby returned to Brasenose, and would later become headmaster of

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, C ...

from 1868 to 1884. The building has retained the name "Cosin's Hall". It continued to be used by University College for accommodation and offices until 2006, after which it was taken over by the university's Institute of Advanced Study.The Institute of Advanced Study
Durham University, Accessed December 2006

People

Principals

; 1851-4 : John Pedder ''(former Bursar of

; later Principal of Hatfield Hall)'' ; 1854–64 :

''(fellow of

; later headmaster of

)''

Chaplains and Censors

; 1853-4 : James Frederick Turner ''(later Bishop of Grafton and Armidale, Australia)'' ; 1855–63 :

William Greenwell Canon William Greenwell, (23 March 1820 – 27 January 1918) was an English archaeologist and Church of England priest. Early life William Greenwell was born 23 March 1820 at the estate known as Greenwell Ford near Lanchester, County Durham, E ...

''(formerly principal of Neville Hall, Newcastle; archaeologist and Canon of Durham, later Durham Cathedral librarian)''

References

{{Durham University Educational institutions established in 1851 Educational institutions disestablished in 1864 1851 establishments in England Grade II listed buildings in County Durham Grade II listed educational buildings Colleges of Durham University Former colleges of universities in the United Kingdom