CONSTRUCTION of Ushaw College began in 1804 on land belonging to the Smythes, of Esh village, a Catholic family who had owned much land in the neighbourhood since the reign of Henry VIII. They took part in the Catholic rebellion called the Rising of the North in 1569, and although their land was confiscated, it was restored in 1609.

Sir Edward Smythe was no doubt happy to sell 200 acres of his land for the establishment of an important Catholic seminary.

In fact, Smythe property at Acton Burnell, Shropshire, was once used as a place of refuge for schoolmasters from Ushaw's forerunner at Douai College, in northern France.

When the French Revolution forced the college to relocate to England in the 1790s, about 40 students and teachers travelled north, where they eventually moved into the completed Ushaw College in 1808.

James Taylor, an architect from Islington, London, built the early parts of the college around a quadrangle in the Georgian style, but this was only the beginning.

As the century passed, the college and its land continued to expand.

In 1817, college president John Gillow built a 70ft windmill to provide unadulterated flour for college consumption.

It remained in use until the morning of New Year's Day 1853, when a gale force wind "decapitated" the mill and sent its sails crashing to the ground.

The remains can still be seen today in a little row of houses just north-west of the college.

It was intended that the college should be agriculturally self-sufficient and, in 1852, a model Home Farm was built 200 metres down the hill from the mill. This unusual farm, built in the Gothic style, encompassed everything needed in the way of farm buildings under one roof.

Gothic developments also took place around the Georgian core of the college.

Several buildings were built by successive generations of the Pugin family, with others built by Joseph and Charles Hansom, of Hansom cab fame.

Several buildings were built between 1839 and 1893, including a library, infirmary, museum, kitchens, a swimming pool, cloisters, oratory, playground and chapels.

The college library, modelled on the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, was built to house 45,000 books of mostly historical or theological nature, while the college museum housed Ushaw's cherished collection of relics.

Many relics were purchased from a private individual in Naples and, in May 1860, they were delivered in a large wagon under the supervision of a priest.

The wagon's load included 20 relics of Jesus, three of the Virgin Mary and 860 relics relating to saints.

Other relics in the college's possession include those of the English martyrs, an AngloSaxon fabric from St Cuthbert's tomb in Durham Cathedral, and a ring acquired from some Parisian nuns, which was allegedly recovered from St Cuthbert's tomb many centuries before.

At the eastern end of the college, the huge walls of the racket court remind us of a unique ball game called Cat, or Katt, which is undoubtedly one of this college's most fascinating features.

The game incorporates aspects of baseball, squash and golf and originated in the college of Douai, where it was played before at least 1760.

It is a seven-a-side game played with a hard ball smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a golf ball.

Each bat, made of ash, has a shaft similar to a golf club and a flattened bottle-shaped head 4in long and 2in in diameter.

The game is played on an open field with a circular track 80 yards in circumference with seven holes, around which the batting team assembles.

When the ball is struck, members of the striking team run as far around the circular track as they can. Fielders on the opposing team attempt to return the ball into a hole before a member of the batting team touches the hole.

Once batters have progressed around the track twice, plus five extra holes, the batsman attempts to achieve a "cross".

Upon striking the ball, members of the batting team run to the centre of the pitch, cross their bats and return to the holes before the fielders can pot the ball. These crosses gain the points, and if a striker fails on three attempts to achieve a cross, the team is out.

Cat was an annual event played from St Cuthbert's Day, on March 20, to the end of May, however, because of dwindling numbers at the college, it is rarely played today, except by former students who return to the college to indulge.

This ball game is not the only aspect of college life to be affected by a decline in the number of students wishing to take up the vocation.

Ushaw College has had to increasingly adapt with the times. Building development continued at the college until as late as 1964, with the construction of an eastern wing, but although the college continues to work as a seminary, it has had to find new means of sustaining its livelihood.

The new wing serves as a conference centre and, in 1968, the college became an officially licensed hall of residence for Durham University.

The college has continuously developed strong links with the university and especially the department of theology.

Theological courses for lay people have become increasingly important and Ushaw College is constantly considering new uses for its land and buildings, including the possible development of part of the college into a hotel, or extending a nine-hole golf course to 18 holes.

The future of Ushaw College seems uncertain, but with a history dating back more than 400 years, it would be sad if it lost all links with its rich and intriguing past.

If you have memories of Durham you would like to share with The Northern Echo, write to David Simpson, Durham Memories, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF. Email David.Simpson@nne. co. uk or telephone (01325) 505098.

Published: 19/03/2004