Contact Us
Bishop Cosin's Library
Client - Durham University
Location - Durham, County Durham
Bishop Cosin's Library
Client - Durham University
Location - Durham, County Durham
Originally built in 1669, Bishop Cosin’s Library is one of the earliest public libraries in the North East of England, housing significant collections, and was granted "Designated status" in 2005, identifying the library and collections as being of national and international importance. The library has been run by Durham University since 1832, with further buildings being added during the Victorian period and in 1966, resulting in the set of buildings now known as Palace Green Library.
The library came with many challenges, but with the support and guidance of our in-house specialist Conservation and Heritage Team, we successfully completed the conservation of the Grade II* listed library, using sympathetic materials and methods to ensure the history of the building is preserved.
The works to Bishop Cosin’s Library are the latest in a complex series of phased renovation and regeneration works to the Palace Green Library site which involved the removal of the majority of the roof in order to correct the ingress of water to the library in order to protect the interiors and priceless collections from damage.
The conservation and regeneration of the project has enabled the library and its collections to be more accessible and enjoyable than ever before. In addition to this, the reopening of Bishop Cosin’s Library to the public has created a deeper and richer experience for local audiences, visitors to the World Heritage Site, and beyond.
We were appointed to provide Architectural, Principal Designer and Conservation services for this scheme.
"The team at GSS worked tirelessly to resolve the challenges presented by the building, and in March 2020 adapted to remote working and assisting the University and Contractor in mothballing the site in the first lockdown. Something I think none of us really wanted to do, particularly at that stage in the project, where the majority of the roof had been removed and we were reliant on a temporary roof to protect the library.
They worked alongside the University and the Contractor to re-open the site, constantly adapting to changing Government Legislation and industry guidance, to get the project back on track and to a successful conclusion.
It's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team that the library looks as good today as it did 350 years ago. Throughout the project they were fully invested in the success of the project and understood the importance of their part in writing this chapter in the life of the library. May my successors look back at the minutes of our site meetings in 300 years' time and think we did the best we possibly could, as a team, to extend the life of the library."
