Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, visited Ushaw College.
Ushaw College, based near Ushaw Moor, is a former Catholic seminary that worked with Durham University and trained priests until 2011. In 2014 it reopened as a visitor attraction and now receives over 50,000 visitors a year. Durham University continues to use parts of the building for student teaching and there are plans for an international research library to be placed in the college to enable students from across the world to work on the collections held there, at Durham University and at Durham Cathedral. The college also hosts musical events and lectures.
Richard met with Peter Seed, the Director for Operations at Ushaw College, and with Jak Abrahams, the Political Affairs Manager at BASC, a conservation association. BASC work to promote the well-being of the countryside throughout the United Kingdom, and works with sites such as Ushaw College on their conservation projects.
Richard was given a tour of the college and the grounds by Peter and met the team who work and volunteer then. Richard was told about the history of the college and shown some of the exhibitions that are currently running, as well as shown the library and future projects that will be held there. Jak updated Richard on what BASC are currently doing in the area and Richard placed a bird box in the grounds of Ushaw College to encourage the maintenance of the natural wildlife in the area.
Commenting, Richard said ‘It was great to visit Ushaw College – it’s an unbelievably beautiful place and we are so lucky to have it in the constituency. The history of the place is simply amazing and they do so much work to promote the constituency and the area generally. It was also good to hear from BASC about the work they’re doing for conservation and the environment in North West Durham. I really hope to visit Ushaw College again and highly encourage everyone to visit – there’s so much to do and see there and it’s such an interesting place. I look forward to working with BASC in the future and will be attending their summer weekend later this year. I want to say thank you to both Peter and Jak for hosting me and for a fantastic tour of the college and the grounds’.
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