Fire at Ushaw involving Grade II* St Aloysius Chapel and the Ushaw Junior House

Statement from Joe O’Donnell, Director, The Victorian Society following the fire at Ushaw near Durham.

Photo: Aftermath of the fire at Ushaw involving Grade II* St Aloysius Chapel and the Ushaw Junior House. Photo Copyright: County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service received reports of a fire at the listed Ushaw Chapels and gardens near Durham around midnight on the 6th July. Four appliances from Durham, Peterlee, Spennymoor and am Aerial ladder platform from Darlington attended. The fire crews acted as quickly as they could and the Service say the fire was “promptly brought under control.”

Joe O’Donnell, Director, The Victorian Society said, “The Victorian Society is deeply saddened by the recent fire at the great Gothic revival Grade II* Chapel and Grade II Junior House at Ushaw by Edward Pugin. Sadly these buildings have been closed for decades and allowed to become derelict. Once buildings fall into this state the risk of fires or other disasters dramatically increases. Nationally important buildings like this must kept properly secured. The custodians of Ushaw should now quickly move to secure and restore them and redouble their efforts to find a new use, which is ultimately what is required to prevent these kinds of incidents.”