Palatinate (colour)

Palatinate Purple #7E317B (as associated with the University of Durham)
#7E317B

Palatinate or 'palatinate purple' is a "light purple or lavender" colour associated with Durham University. It is used in the academic dress of Durham University and in the faculties of medicine and law at Newcastle University (being a former college of Durham University). A separate colour, 'palatinate blue', is derived from the Coat of Arms of the County of Durham. The name 'Palatinate' in both instances alludes to the historic status of Durham as a County Palatine. The shade of purple are used for Durham (and Newcastle) academic hoods is different from that used for Durham University's corporate branding.

It is likely that the choice of purple as the University's colour relates to the key role played by the Bishop of Durham in the foundation of the University (purple being an episcopal colour), as well as to the unique historical status of Bishops of Durham as Palatine Earls. It was the first 'university colour' adopted by a British university for its academic dress. The following story, recounted in Whiting's history of the University of Durham, purports to explain precisely how this shade of purple came to be adopted as the University colour. (Whiting himself had heard it from a Canon Whitley, who had been Reader in Natural Philosophy during the early years of the University's existence (1833–55).)

"When the colour of the MA hood was discussed by Senate, he [Whitley] had proposed black and amber, but was outvoted on the grounds that people would call it 'Durham Mustard', a reference to the mustard factory then in existence in the city, and possibly to the popular saying that Durham was famous for 'old maids and mustard'. Mr Telfair, university tailor, afterwards produced a piece of a purple coat which had been worn by Bishop Van Mildert, and this colour was adopted for the MA hood."

In the mid-19th century, the University tailor referred to the colour used in the hoods as Palatinate Blue, despite it being "really a sort of purple".

The following data are somewhat open to question; in particular, the precise colour of palatinate purple used by the University varies a good deal. Its most long-established usage is in the University's academic dress and sporting colours, both of which use a significantly paler shade than that specified below. The palatinate purple used for the academic robes is said by Shaw (1966) to be British Colour Council No. 177 "Crocus" from the second (1951) edition of the Dictionary of Colour Standards.

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