Reference code: GB-0298-LC/A10
Title: Lisbon College House and Grounds
Dates of creation: 1614-1820
Extent: 3 files
Held by: Ushaw College Library
Origination: Lisbon College
Language:
Portuguese
The English College of SS. Peter and Paul at Lisbon (or, as it is more commonly known, Lisbon College) was founded by Pedro Coutinho in 1624 as a college for English students training for the priesthood and mission work in England. As a
pontifical college it was awarded the same privileges and rights as other colleges centrally controlled by Rome, such as the English College in Rome, whose aim was the maintenance of the Catholic faith in England, Scotland and Ireland. The driving
force behind the college in its early years was William Newman. Although he was never to become president, Newman founded the college from property entrusted by the estate of the late Nicholas Ashton, a Catholic chaplain in Lisbon. Initial progress
was slow until the arrival of a group of English students and teachers from the English College at Douai in 1628. The first president, albeit briefly, was Archdeacon Joseph Haynes who died the following year. The reputation of the college as a
centre of academic excellence and its relevance as an English institution in Lisbon attracted patronage from varied sources during the seventeenth century, including Pedro da Costa and Maria de Oliveira Leitoa who transferred important funds to the
college in exchange for daily masses for their special intention. In 1679, Pope Innocent XI granted the college the privilege of being considered as a High Altar of Christ on the Cross. In spite of its wealthy benefactors and papal patronage, the
college faced a number of challenges in the following centuries. In 1755, Lisbon was shaken by a terrible earthquake in which 20,000 people died and 60,000 houses and 60 palaces and convents were destroyed. The college suffered badly both in terms
of the physical devastation of its buildings and the mental well-being of many of its students and superiors who, like most of the population of Lisbon, chose to live under tents in the gardens of the college rather than risk being inside in fear of
another quake. The college suffered another setback when it was occupied by French forces during Napoleon's invasion of Portugal in 1807 and, just days before the second French invasion, the president decided to close the college down, with all
students being sent to an Anglo-Portuguese school in England until the war ended in 1814. The college was finally closed in 1973. Since the passing of the Roman Catholic Relief Act in Britain in 1829, the college's raison d'etre had ceased to exist
although it's high reputation as a teaching and training establishment enabled it to survive for another 144 years.
Legal papers about the various properties on the site owned by the college.
Lisbon College closed in 1973 and this collection, along with the rest of the Lisbon Archive and Library, was transferred to Ushaw College by Mgr James Sullivan the following year.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Lisbonian Society and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners,
but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The papers follow the original arrangement of the collection which is broadly chronological.
Calendared card catalogue
LC/A10/1 1852
Language: Portuguese
Printed copy of an
alvara by the King of Spain (Phillip III) concerning Misericordiae Hospital
This copy is taken from the original
alvara of 15 March 1614
4p
LC/A10/2 1778
Language: Portuguese
Authenticated copies of 3
alvaras by the King of Spain (Philip IV) to Lisbon College:
(1) Teaching (20 August 1626)
(2) Shutting up the Rua Boaventura (15 April 1627)
(3) Enabling persons to sell Coutinho their houses and land to allow the college to be built (28 May 1627)
These copies were made in 1778
8f
Old Catalogue Number 238
LC/A10/3 2 November 1626
Language: Portuguese
Title deeds of houses and land (on which the college was built) purchased from Donna Violante Coronel
32f
Old Catalogue Number 38
LC/A10/4 8 January 1627
Language: Portuguese
Letter from Cofraria das Chabas to the King of Spain (Philip IV): petition for leave to sell to Coutinho houses in the Rua de S. Boaventura, the said houses being the foundation of a Capella
5f
Old Catalogue Number 245
LC/A10/5 29 March 1627 - 14 June 1631
Language: Portuguese
Title deeds of houses and grounds on which the college was built, including deed of sale of the houses built from Donna Violente Coronel
44f
Old Catalogue Number 38
LC/A10/6 [?1628]
Language: Portuguese
Letter from [William Newman] to the Lisbon Chapter (copy): information on the church which Coutinho intends to build for the college
2f
LC/A10/7 7 March 1630
Language: Portuguese
Title deed of houses bought from Maria de Araujo for the erection of college buildings
Two separate copies
6f/13f
Old Catalogue Number 37
LC/A10/8 17 July 1634
Language: Latin
Letter from J. Colleton to W. Hart: procuration for the new president concerning the possible disposal of certain houses belonging to the college (St Catharine's)
2f
Old Catalogue Number 304
LC/A10/9 5 July 1638
Language: Portuguese
Contract between the Protector (Don Francisco de Castro) and Alvaro Fernandes concerning the building of the college
14f
Old Catalogue Number 2(a)
LC/A10/10 1 April 1640
Language: Portuguese
Bill for the building of the college
4f
Old Catalogue Number 2(b)
LC/A10/11 23 August 1640
Language: Portuguese
Title deed of houses purchased from Francisco Ferreira de Andrade
Includes copy of the king (Philip IV's)
alavara ordering him to sell the houses
37f
Old Catalogue Number 41
LC/A10/12 2 [?] 1640
Language: Portuguese
Paper relating to part of the college's site bought from the Cofraria das Chagas
4f
LC/A10/13 8 January 1641
Language: Portuguese
[?Lawsuit] between F[rancisco] Ferreira de Andrade and F. Clarence (president) concerning the compulsory purchase of houses from de Andrade
15f
LC/A10/14 22 April 1641
Language: Portuguese
Original
alvara of 15 April 1627 signed by King Philip IV and Coutinho, as well as documents relating to the closing of the Rua de S. Boaventura
25f
Old Catalogue Number 243
LC/A10/15 22 October 1713
Lisbon College and Misericordiae
padroado
2f
Old Catalogue Number 53
LC/A10/16 14 September 1719
Language: Portuguese
Certificate of the state and prospect of the college buildings in 1715
6f
Old Catalogue Number 283
LC/A10/17 20 October 1743
Language: English
Account by John Shepperd of the farms belonging to Mr Peter House in Lisbon
6f
LC/A10/18 25 October 1796
Language: Portuguese
Letter from Joao Pedro da Matta Pera to the Lisbon College Superiors: acknowledging the return of a capstan, and carts etc. borrowed from the arsenal for building
1f
Old Catalogue Number 303
LC/A10/19 12 April 1820
Language: Portuguese
Contract between E. Winstanley and Manoel Luiz de Mascimento to build in the college garden
4f
