Archdeacon's Inn was built around 1700, as a city residence for the Archdeacon of Northumberland, who administered the Northern part of the Diocese of Durham. In 1833, the building was given to the University of Durham as the home of University College and the residence of the university's first students. The first students took residence in Michaelmas Term 1833, under the supervision of the Bursar. A hall was created on the groundfloor of the house, with student rooms above and below. The building subsequently became known as "University House". In 1837, Durham Castle was granted to the University and became the primary home of University College, with University House being retained as additional accommodation for the college.
Foundation of Bishop Cosin's Hall
In 1846, David Melville opened Bishop Hatfield's Hall, initiating the pioneering practice of letting rooms furnished and serving food communally at a fixed price. This was intended to make university attendance far more accessible to students of limited means, compared to University College and the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, where students were expected to furnish their own rooms and to engage servants to prepare their food. The high level of applications for admission to Hatfield Hall led the university to decide to establish a second hall to operate on the same basis, and in October 1851 Bishop Cosin's Hall was opened. Its name was in honour of John Cosin, Bishop of Durham 1660–72, and it is recorded as having used his heraldry. University House was transferred from University College to the new college as its home. The founding principal was Revd John Pedder, a Durham graduate who had previously been bursar at University College. In 1854 Pedder moved to become principal at Bishop Hatfield's Hall, and his place was taken by 28-year-old Revd James John Hornby, a fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford and a noted rower. From 1859, Hornby was also vice-master of University College.
Closure
A collapse in student numbers in the late 1850s and 1860s led to financial difficulties for the university. In 1860, Hornby wrote to Henry Montagu Villiers, the newly-appointed Bishop of Durham, requesting his aid in obtaining a royal commission to address the university's difficulties. The bishop replied expressing sympathy, but saying that he could not make any definite pledge of assistance. The commission took place in 1861-2 and made extensive recommendations, but did not have enough immediate effect to save Bishop Cosin's Hall, which was merged into University College at the start of Michaelmas Term 1864 due to falling student numbers. The students in residence were transferred partly to University College and partly to Bishop Hatfield's Hall, while Hornby returned to Brasenose, and would later become headmaster of Eton College from 1868 to 1884. The building has retained the name "Cosin's Hall". It continued to be used by University College for accommodation and offices until 2006, after which it was taken over by the university's Institute of Advanced Study.
People
Principals
; 1851-4 : John Pedder ' ; 1854–64 : James John Hornby'
