The Lawns

The Lawns is a former student accommodation complex for the University of Hull, located in Cottingham, East Riding around of Yorkshire, England. It comprises seven halls of residence (Ferens, Lambert, Nicholson, Morgan, Downs, Reckitt and Grant) and the Lawns Centre. The latter was the complex's catering and social hub. The halls accommodated almost 1,000 students.[1] In March 2019 it was announced that the Lawns would be closed as student accommodation in the next academic year.

The Lawns
General information
TypeHalls of Residence
LocationHarland Way, Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire
Coordinates53.7862°N 0.4235°W / 53.7862; -0.4235 (grid reference TA0333)
OwnerUniversity of Hull
Grounds40 acres (16 ha)
DesignationsGrade II* listed

Description

The Lawns halls are set in 40 acres (16 ha) of landscaped parkland, dominated by large sports pitches. There is also a large car park on site and a police station at the main entrance.

Of the seven halls on the site, Ferens is of a traditional rectangular 'Sandhurst block style' with the accommodation around three sides of a central lawn. It is somewhat isolated from the other halls both by its location and by a natural screen of trees. Each of the other halls, which were designed by the architectural firm Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, comprises five blocks identified by the letters A to E, and accommodates approximately 140 residents. A typical block configuration was three floors, with each floor accommodating nine students in seven rooms.

The lawns were developed on the grounds of the former Cottingham Grange, which had been used as an army camp in the Second World War; the nearby Ferens Hall was originally known as 'Camp Hall'.[2]

The Lawns has its own bus stop in the car park and is the terminating route for services 103/105, which run to the university and terminate at Hull Paragon Interchange.

The Lawns Centre
The dining hall in 2017

The Lawns Centre has recently had a £2.5m refurbishment after flooding in Cottingham. A list of facilities can be found here:

Ground floor: Reception, Printers, 4 Small meeting rooms/lecture theaters, 'The Hive'- 1 large meeting room with a piano, large screen, table tennis, pool & air hockey facilities. Also hosts classes put on by the University, A gym for student use only, Vending Machines, Cash Machine, Toilets, Kitchen.

1st Floor: Bar, Lounge, Outdoor seating area, Food servery, Dining room with big screen.

Outside: Sports courts for activities & classes put on by the University.

Downs Hall
Downs Hall, taken from Reckitt opposite

Offers accommodation to 132 students in single rooms.[1] Most rooms have a sun terrace. Before 1985, Downs Hall offered accommodation to male students only. However, due to a decline in preference for an all-male hall, at the start of the 1985 year (autumn of 1984), Downs Hall was open to both male and female students. The hall was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1993 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[3] The hall closed at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

Morgan Hall

Morgan Hall was the third hall of the planned 12 halls of residence upon the Lawns Complex. Morgan Hall takes its name from the first principle of Hull University College Arther Morgan. The Hall has 133 single rooms, most with balconies.[1] The hall was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1993 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[4]

Nicholson Hall
Nicholson Hall

Nicholson Hall was the fifth hall of the planned 12 halls of residence upon the Lawns Complex. It takes its name from the principal of Hull University College 1935 John Nicholson. John Nicholson led the campaign to achieve the college's independence, which eventuated on 13 May 1954.

Nicholson Hall house's approximately 142 students in both medium and en-suite rooms. This is the only self-catered Hall on the Lawns Complex.[1] Most rooms have washbasins and a balcony. In 2009 Nicholson Hall was re-furbished converting all double rooms to singles, updated kitchen diner kitchens similar to the Downs and Morgan Hall designs with additional en-suite facilities in particular blocks. The hall was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1993 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[5]

Lambert Hall
Lambert in 2018

Lambert Hall accommodates 130 students in a mixture of single and en-suite rooms. Most rooms have a balcony. Before 1985, Lambert Hall offered accommodation to female students only. At the start of the 1985 year (autumn of 1984), Lambert Hall was open to both male and female students. The hall was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1993 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[6]

Reckitt Hall

Reckitt Hall accommodates 121 students in a mixture of single and en-suite rooms.[1] Most rooms have a balcony. The hall was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1993 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[7] The hall closed at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

Grant Hall

Grant Hall is named after G.F. Grant, a co-founder of Hull University College in 1927. It accommodates 121 students across 2 blocks of single and 3 blocks of en-suite rooms. The hall was designated a Grade II* listed building in 1993 and is now recorded in the National Heritage List for England, maintained by Historic England.[8]

Ferens Hall

Ferens Hall accommodated 191 students all in single rooms. It was established in the 1950s as a male hall of residence.[9] The hall closed at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

Committees and responsibilities

From the date of inception until 1969 Halls of Residence at the University of Hull were presided over by the "Halls of Residence Committee". This committee was responsible for the day-to-day running of Traditional halls until the creation of the lawns. The committee was composed of wardens, facilities management from the university and the vice-chancellor. In 1968 at the decision of the committee the "Halls of Residence Committee" was dissolved and the council of the newly built Lawns complex (known as "The Lawns Forum") gained the responsibility of term time activity upon the Lawns complex. Financial matters and conference responsibilities all passed to the relevant departments of the University and out of the hands of the wardens.[10]

Closure

By the start of the 2017/2018 academic year, The Lawns was the last operating halls of residence site in Cottingham following the closures of Cleminson Hall in 2004, Needler Hall in 2016, and Thwaite Hall in the summer of 2017. Ferens, Downs, and Reckitt halls were closed at the end of the 2017-2018 academic year.

References
  1. "The Lawns, University of Hull Accommodation". University of Hull. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  2. "Cottingham High School History". Cottingham High School. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  3. Historic England. "Downs Hall, the Lawns (1103346)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  4. Historic England. "Morgan Hall, the Lawns (1103344)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  5. Historic England. "Nicholson Hall, the Lawns (1276987)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. Historic England. "Lambert Hall, the Lawns (1232675)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  7. Historic England. "Reckitt Hall, the Lawns (1103343)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  8. Historic England. "Grant Hall, the Lawns (1103345)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  9. Allison, K. J., ed. (1969). "Education". A History of the County of York East Riding: Volume 1: The City of Kingston upon Hull. Institute of Historical Research. pp. 348–370. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  10. Halls of Residence Committee November 1961 – December 1968
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