Monday 8 September 2014

Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham


Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK artist Ingrid Sylvestre North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre English Romantic Landscape Paintings Illustration North East UK North East Entertainment North East Arts and Entertainment Newcastle upon Tyne County Durham Sunderland Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Northumberland North Yorkshire UK Artists Commissions and Exhibitions and Live Events
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In the beautiful countryside beyond Durham City a mysterious secret garden is hidden.
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Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK artist Ingrid Sylvestre

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Although overgrown, the flower borders still curve enticingly beyond the weathered stone steps.
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Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK artist Ingrid Sylvestre

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Golden sunlight illuminates the mossy paths, beckoning us to explore beyond rounded bushes and tall trees.
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Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre

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Framed by foliage, old buildings form an imposing backdrop.
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Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre

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Incongruous against the seemingly deserted old buildings, a bright blue bus waits ... but no passengers appear.
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Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre

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Founded in 1808 as a seminary for training Catholic priests until it closed in 2011, Ushaw College is now used by the University of Durham.
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The stone structures in the image below were for a unique sport named 'Cat', played by the priests at Ushaw College.
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Mysterious Secret Gardens at Ushaw College in County Durham - Photos by North East UK Durham artist Ingrid Sylvestre

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Now all is still, with the silence broken only by cawing of rooks overhead and the rustling of leaves as you step carefully through these mysterious and beautiful gardens.
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North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre English Romantic Landscape Paintings Illustration North East UK North East Entertainment North East Arts and Entertainment Newcastle upon Tyne County Durham Sunderland Middlesbrough Teesside Darlington Northumberland North Yorkshire UK Artists Commissions and Exhibitions and Live Events

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North East artist Ingrid Sylvestre County Durham Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland Middlesbrough Teesside Northumberland North Yorkshire Artists English Romantic Landscape Paintings English Painters Illustrations UK Illustrators Commissioned Paintings and Artwork Ingrid Sylvestre North East Entertainment UK Ingrid Sylvestre North East UK Artist.
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 To read news updates on Ingrid Sylvestre's Arts & Entertainment activities, please click here to visit Ingrid Sylvestre News & Events
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6 comments:

Mark and Gaz said...

Looks so mysterious, even haunting!

Phoenix C. said...

Yes, Mark and Gaz - it would make a great setting for a story book!

Rune Eide said...

Thank you for a quiet stroll in a place I would otherwise never have come. The atmosphere seems very poetic - quiet but sad.

Phoenix C. said...

RuneE 'Poetic', yes, that is a really good description of the place! It does feel a little sad, but will hopefully be restored soon and have a happier atmosphere then too.

Anna said...

Now that does like a most secret garden Ingrid. It seems to have a rather forbidding atmosphere but that could be all those dark clouds. Would love to know more about the workings of the game of 'Cat'. A hiding game perhaps?

Phoenix C. said...

It does have a rather forbidding atmosphere - I think it may be the tall buildings which are clustered very close together - a bit kind of looming. I don't know much about the game, but it seems to have been a little like squash where the ball is bounced against a wall. (Sport is not my forte!!) Lots of people say it looks a bit like quidditch out of Harry Potter!