Durham Castle and Cathedral :: Durham, England

The city of Durham in England is home to an amazing Norman castle that has been occupied by and used by University College, Durham since 1840. Although Durham Castle is a working castle and home to over 100 students, it is open to the general public for guided tours through this amazing historical landmark. The castle sits atop a hill over the River Wear on the opposite end of another famous landmark, Durham Cathedral. In 1986 Durham Castle and Cathedral were inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list as fine examples of Norman architecture in England. In 2008, Palace Green, the small area of grass that separates the castle and cathedral was added to the existing UNESCO listing.

The castle was created in the 11th century to display the Norman king’s power in the north of England and is an amazing example of early motte and bailey castles that were preferred by the Normans. The castle was used as the seat of the holder of the office “Bishop of Durham” and remained so until the Bishops made Bishop Auckland their main residence and converted the castle into a college. Its massive Great Hall was at one point the largest in Britain until Bishop Richard Foxe had it slightly shortened at the end of the 15th century. The castle’s keep was rebuilt according to the original plans when the castle was donated to the University in 1840 and houses the majority of the students. During vacation tomes the college offers rooms in the castle for conferences and also offers hotel accommodations to visitors. Outside of students and vacationing guests, access to the castle is restricted to guided tours.

The castle features two amazing chapels, the Norman Chapel and Tunstall’s Chapel. The Norman Chapel is the oldest accessible part of the castle having been built in 1078. The architecture of the chapel was greatly influenced by the Anglian laborers that we used to build it. During World War II it was used by the Royal Air Force as a command and observation post. Shortly after the war it was re-consecrated and to this day is still used for weekly services by the college. Tunstall’s Chapel, built in 1540, is the larger and more used of the castle chapels. Originally shorter, the chapel was extended in the late seventeenth century and this addition can easily be noticed by looking at the distinct differences in the stonework between the east and west ends.

Durham Cathedral was founded in 1093 and is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. It is widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in the world. The cathedral holds daily Church of England services and features the Durham Cathedral Choir singing daily except Mondays and when the choir is in recess. The cathedral is a top tourist attraction in the region and is visited by thousands. Be sure to visit the 217 foot tall central tower to get a glimpse of some spectacular views of Durham and its surroundings.