A Durham college building that has served generations of students for more than a century has been awarded a blue plaque to celebrate its historic significance. Neville House – now part of Ustinov College – was founded by Durham County Council in 1921 as a women-only teacher training college, Neville's Cross College.
Over the next 101 years, it changed its educational purpose, name and stewardship several times but always retained its role as a college.
Sadly, it fell into dereliction after New College Durham moved off the site in the early 2000s and it wasn’t until 2013 that an extensive renovation programme was announced.
The building reopened in 2017 as part of Ustinov College on the newly developed Sheraton Park site.
A blue plaque has been unveiled at Neville House
Now its rich history has been recognised with a blue plaque which was unveiled at an event that brought past and present college residents together.
One of those attending was Ruth Rowntree, who was a teacher training student at Neville House in the early 1960s.
She graduated in 1964 aged 22 and described her time living in Neville House as ‘fabulous’, adding: “It was very strict, we had to sign in and out and get permission if we wanted to go down into town or go home, but it was just wonderful.”
Ruth now chairs the Neville’s Cross College Association and said she was delighted to see the building restored to its former glory.
She said:
After the college closed down we still used to come up here on a drive around and it looked so deserted, it made me cry. So when they said they were doing it up it was so nice to know that something decent was being done with it.
“And it is absolutely wonderful to see it as it is now.
“I’m pleased to see it given a blue plaque; it absolutely deserves it at 101 years old.”
Ruth’s fellow Neville’s Cross College graduate and Association Social Secretary, Christine Middleton, lived and studied at Neville House from 1959 to 1961 and reflects on her time fondly.
She described the building as a ‘beautiful example’ of Georgian architecture, adding: “It’s nice to see it now because it went through a period where it was derelict, and it was sad to see.
“But it’s just lovely to see it now.”
Joel Lozano, Graduate Common Room President at Ustinov College, represents the latest generation of students living at Neville House.
He said: “I love it here, it’s very nice to live in a building like this; it’s so beautiful and has a really good community feel.
I didn’t realise the building had such a long history and it’s nice that people will see the blue plaque and know a bit more about it.
Professor Glenn McGregor, Principal of Ustinov College, said: “Durham University is pleased to have an association with the site and Ustinov College will continue that long tradition of education and of caring for students."