Hatfield College - History & Buildings

History & Buildings

During the eighteenth century, the oldest part of the site was a coaching inn known as the Red Lion, which was for many years the centre of concert and social life in Durham, playing host to composers such as Charles Avison. The dining room, known in the 18th Century as Richardson's Long-Room and later Hoult's Assembly Room, remains substantially unchanged, retaining many of its original features.

Hatfield College was established in 1846 as the second college of the University. The establishment of the college as a furnished and catered residence with fees set in advance was a revolutionary idea at the time and later became a general practice at student residences. The origin of this idea came from the founding Master, Rev. David Melville. Melville’s idea for the college was that college residence and higher education should be economically viable to the financially disadvantaged. Three principles to Melville’s model were that rooms would be furnished and let out to students with shared servants, meals would be provided and eaten in the college hall and college battels (bills) were set in advance. Melville’s model was not introduced within the university until recommended by the Royal Commission of 1862, whereby it was later used at Keble College and eventually worldwide.

Although not established as a theological college, the first 50 years of the college saw a majority of theology students and staff as members of the college, with senior staff members and the Principal (who was always been a clergyman until 1897) being a cleric. The rise in students to over a hundred, resulting from the popularity of theology, resulted in the college's buying Bailey house and the Rectory to accommodate its students in the 1890s. Toward the end of the nineteenth century Hatfield’s demography had shifted from theology to education and science and resulted in the building of ‘C Stairs’ to increase the amount of accommodation.

The economic shortfall during the 1920s led to an uncertain situation for Hatfield, although with a larger number of students than University College it lacked the facilities, especially kitchens, to accommodate them. The solution resulted in the amalgamation of Hatfield and University Colleges with all meals being taken at the former. As a result of this Hatfield was awarded monies to fund its tutorial system and the introduction of electricity. During World War II the college was taken over by a local teaching college and students were moved to nearby accommodation on the Bailey. After the war and twenty years of co-operation with University College, Hatfield students were able to return to their college although a number of problems faced the college such as the number of students rising as a result of the backlog of students resulting from the war and rebuilding the morale and freedom of students. As a result new buildings were built and refurbished (e.g. Pace, Gate-house and Kitchen Blocks) as well as accommodation away from the main site being bought along with the establishment of the Senior Common Room.

During the late twentieth century Hatfield was faced with an increasing number of students and as a result living-out became compulsory and many of the existing buildings were either rebuilt or refurbished to make room for students. Hatfield also became a co-educational college during this time, with the first female Senior Man holding the post in 1992.