Description

DURHAM AND FRAMWELLGATE

NZ 2742 SE
15/300

OLD ELVET
(South side)
Old Shire Hall
(University Office)

II

County Council headquarters, now offices. 1896-8 by H. Barnes and F.E. Coates
with extensions of 1905. Built by Rankin of Sunderland. Bright red engineering
brick with copious terracotta dressings; sandstone ashlar dressings on extension.
Graduated Lakeland slate roofs with terracotta crestings, copper dome. Baroque
style. Original building 2 storeys and basement, 9 bays with a subsidiary
bay set back at right. Centre and end bays project, the former under square
tower with drum and dome, the latter under high Flemish gables. Steps to central
entrance with wrought-iron screen in keyed and rusticated architrave. Round-
arched windows, paired on first floor, in similar openings. Balustrades below
first-floor windows. Floor entablatures, the upper with modillion cornice and
blocking course. Irregularly-placed corniced chimneys. Terra-cotta area
balustrades sweep up to form handrails for steps. Extension of 3 wide bays,
banded in stone and brick, the left bay projecting. Outer bays have attic gables.
Extruded porch with stone dome above high shaped parapet. Groups of 3 windows,
the lower in keyed and rusticated architraves, the upper segment-headed with
architraves and rusticated column jambs. Stone modillioned continuous eaves
cornice. Dentil-corniced chimneys.

Interior: rich decoration of terra-cotta and glazed tiles to halls, staircases,
principal rooms and ante-rooms. Good quality woodwork by Robson, wrought-iron
by Singer of Frome, throughout, and interesting stained glass: pictorial,
didactic and decorative.

Listing NGR: NZ2774442322

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Old Shire Hall (University Office) at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26596973

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  For the Record
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper