Durham Cathedral. Durham Castle and Cathedral

Majestic and beautiful buildings - the castle and cathedral in the city of Durham, which is located on the border with Scotland - were founded in the 11th century to protect the lands from the Scots. And although their construction began at approximately the same time, the completion of construction was very different. The cathedral was built quite quickly (within 40 years) and therefore it is distinguished by a clear style and a clear belonging to one historical era. This cathedral became a kind of intermediate stage in architecture, a smooth transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic. Columns, massive pylons and walls bear the spirit of Romanesque architecture, and naves with ribbed vaults - Gothic. It was during the construction of this cathedral that such technology was used for the first time in Europe.

Unlike the cathedral, Durham Castle has changed its appearance more than once. It was rebuilt over 900 years. Originally intended for the defense of the city, it eventually became the seat of Norman bishops until it was transferred to the university in 1837. And each bishop, being in power and wanting to demonstrate his greatness and strength, made additions and changes to the architecture of the building. As a result, a variety of architectural styles were mixed here, and the Norman roots were preserved only in the foundation and plan.

And, despite the fact that the cathedral, the castle and the surrounding buildings are somewhat different, all together they represent a single complex, fascinating in beauty and grandeur.

Durham Cathedral of Christ, Mary and St. Cuthbert's (Durham Cathedral) is the first monument in the UK to be designated (along with neighboring Durham Castle) as a World Heritage Site.

Durham Cathedral was built at the end of the 11th - beginning of the 12th centuries. for the burial of the remains of St. Cuthbert (Baptist of Northumbria) and St. Bede.

The cathedral bears witness to the great importance of the early Benedictine monastic community and is the largest and finest example of Northern England architecture.

The innovative courage shown by its creators during the construction of its vaults was a harbinger of Gothic architecture.

The cathedral in Durham, near the border with Scotland, was founded in 1093 by the decision of the first Bishop of Durham, William of Saint-Calais.

Its location on the top of a cliff and powerful walls were designed to perform not so much an aesthetic as a defensive function.

The construction was completed by William's successor, Bishop Ranulf Flambard.

After the consecration of the cathedral, the main shrines of Durham were transferred to it - the relics of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and Oswald of Northumbria.

In the 12th century. A Gothic chapel of the Virgin Mary was added to the temple, in which the relics of the chronicler of Bede the Venerable and Cardinal Thomas Langley (1363-1437) were placed.

During the English Reformation, the magnificent tombs of saints were destroyed and the Benedictine monks were sent home.

Oliver Cromwell imprisoned the Scots captured at Dunbar in the cathedral, many of whom were buried there in a mass grave.

Not far from the cathedral is an ancient Norman fortress, which was the seat of the prince-bishops of Durham.

Unlike the cathedral, Durham Castle has changed its appearance more than once. It was rebuilt over 900 years. Originally intended for the defense of the city, it eventually became the seat of Norman bishops until it was transferred to the university in 1837. And each bishop, being in power and wanting to demonstrate his greatness and strength, made additions and changes to the architecture of the building. As a result, a variety of architectural styles were mixed here, and the Norman roots were preserved only in the foundation and plan.

And, despite the fact that the cathedral, the castle and the surrounding buildings are somewhat different, all together they form a single complex, captivating with its beauty and grandeur.

Fun fact:

From the early days of Christianity, Saint Cuthbert was one of the most respected proselytizing Christian missionaries and was canonized as a saint. As a child, he was a shepherd, but after a vision that appeared to him, he entered a Celtic monastery, where he became famous for his piety and learning. Initially resistant to the Roman tradition of monasticism, Saint Cuthbert accepted Roman Catholic teachings when he was appointed abbot of the monastery at Lindisfarne.

Saint Cuthbert was forced to accept the post of Bishop of Lindisfarne offered to him in 685 and fulfilled his duties with dignity. Two years later he left this post and died soon after. The saint's body, in accordance with his last will, was buried in Lindisfarne and remained there until the relics were transferred to Durham Cathedral.

Residence of the Prince-Bishops Durham Fortress

For those who have the opportunity and desire to explore the sights of Durham in more detail and personally, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the recommendations and tips

Situated along the River Wear in northern England, Durham Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Perched on top of a steep, wooded peninsula overhanging the city, the cathedral has helped local residents defend Durham from enemies for centuries.

Situated next to the cathedral, Durham Castle has evolved over the centuries from an ancient fortress and is now part of the University of Durham. In the 12th century, the peninsula was fortified with protective walls, some of which have survived to this day. Durham was not only a fortified point, but also a place of pilgrimage.

Durham Cathedral owes its existence to St Cuthbert, who died in 687 and was first buried on the island of Lindisfarne on the Northumberland coast. To protect his remains from Viking raids, the monks carried them from place to place and finally brought them in 995 to Durham, the city where the bishop's see was then transferred.

In 998, the monks built a stone “white church” for the relics of the saint, now defunct. In 1022 the church acquired the relics of Bede the Venerable, who died in 735 and was buried in Jarrow. The discovery of the relics of these two saints became the impetus for the construction of a cathedral for pilgrims in Durham.

Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, Durham's clergy were reformed. The city now became an important center of the Christian church in Northern England. Construction of the cathedral began in 1093 and was completed in 1133. This cathedral became the pinnacle of medieval architecture and at the same time witnessed the beginning of the transition from the Romanesque style to the Gothic style.

Since the cathedral was built in a short time, in just 40 years, its architecture is homogeneous. But the nearby castle was rebuilt over 900 years. The castle was built by order of William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-1087).
The modern appearance of the castle has retained the features of its original, Norman appearance. It is built in a typical Norman architectural manner, with a steep earthwork topped by defenses to the east, and a large courtyard around the rampart, protected by an outer wall, to the west. Waltkoff, Earl of Northumberland, began construction of the castle in 1072 by order of William the Conqueror himself. After this, William transferred control of the castle into the hands of Bishop Walcher of Laurens. Under subsequent bishops of Durham, the castle continued to be rebuilt over the course of 750 years.

The castle served a dual function. It protected Durham from constant attacks by the Scots from the north and at the same time served as an administrative center and the official residence of the bishops. After the 17th century, the castle lost its significance as a fortress and began to serve only as an episcopal residence. In the 19th century, the castle became part of the university.

The architecture of the castle reflects numerous changes and additions carried out over the course of a century. In the north wing there are fragments of the Romanesque period. The oldest part of the castle accessible to visitors is the Norman Chapel, built in the Saxon style in 1078.

Unlike other European cathedrals, Durham Cathedral still looks much the same today as it did when it was completed in 1133. During its construction, a number of important technical innovations were used that had a huge impact on Gothic architecture throughout Europe.

The cathedral was built in the Romanesque style that prevailed throughout Western Europe between 1050 and 1200. As its name suggests, the Romanesque style was influenced by Roman architecture and incorporated such features as rounded arches, large columns, small windows and simple carved decorations.

The cathedral was planned by Bishop Kerelef. Built of sandstone, it consists of a large nave with side wings radiating in the form of eight rays and a ribbed vault. The structure of the ribbed vault allowed large areas of it to be curved, and this pattern contributed to the development of the Gothic style, in which such ribs help emphasize the upward thrust of the temple interior. The height of the vault is about three floors, but its proportions were unusual for that time, since the main arcade is almost equal in height to the gallery and the upper row of windows illuminating the choir. This feature draws visitors' attention to the arcades and helps create the illusion of a larger space.

In addition to the innovative design of the ribbed vault, there were other innovations in the cathedral's design. Covered with a black marble slab, the tomb of the Venerable Bede is located in the Galilean Chapel, built at the western end of the cathedral between 1170 and 1175. At the eastern end of the cathedral is the Chapel of the Nine Altars, a large, flat projecting apse built in the 13th century that makes way for pilgrims to pass through to the relics of St Cuthbert. The transept at the east end is not found in any other English church except Fontaine Abbey in Yorkshire.

The light dome in the center was restored in the 15th century after it was destroyed by a storm. Its position is unusual and complements the two western towers. The large window in the north wall with a double tracery lattice is considered the best example of temple Gothic.

Durham Cathedral is dedicated to Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and St. Cuthbert and is a masterpiece of Anglo-Norman architecture.

Durham Cathedral overlooks the River Wear. Next to it is a castle where the prince-bishops of the diocese of Durham lived until the 19th century. It is worth noting that in the hierarchy of the Anglican Church the episcopate of Durham occupies an honorable fourth place.

According to local legend, the fugitive monks who survived the Viking raid were brought to Durham by a brown cow, after which one of the streets leading to the cathedral, Dun Cow Lane, is named. In fact, Durham was better protected from Viking raids. The first building on the site of the modern cathedral was a wooden chapel, which housed the tomb of St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685-687. and patron saint of the city of Durham. Since the construction of the White Church, a stronger, but also wooden structure, a stream of pilgrims poured into Durham, among whom was King Canute I of England, which led to the rise of the city.

Construction of Durham Cathedral began in 1093, the choir was completed in 1096, the nave walls in 1128, and the vaults in 1135. The chapter house was built between 1133 and 1140, but was destroyed in the 18th century. Durham's first prince-bishops, William de Saint-Calais and Ranulf Flambard, are buried there.

In the 1170s, the Galilean Chapel was added to the cathedral, which served as a chapel in honor of the Virgin Mary. It contains the tomb of the Venerable Bede. In 1228, during the restoration of the cathedral, the Chapel of the Nine Altars was completed. The cathedral's towers were completed at the same time, but the central tower, destroyed by lightning, was rebuilt in the 15th century.

The tomb of St. Cuthbert, located in the eastern apse, looks very modest - it is just a slab with an engraved name. However, according to records from the 17th century, the site was previously luxuriously decorated with precious stones and donations from numerous pilgrims. St Cuthbert's tomb was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries by order of King Henry VIII, but the saint's incorrupt relics were subsequently reburied.

In the 17th century, after the Battle of Dunbar on 3 September 1650, Durham Cathedral was used by Oliver Cromwell as a temporary prison for captured Scots. The prisoners were kept in terrible conditions; out of 3 thousand, more than half died in this cathedral; they were buried in a mass grave, which was discovered in 1946. In 2007, a memorial plaque was installed in the cathedral in memory of the Dunbar Martyrs.

It is known that the Scottish captives destroyed almost the entire interior of the cathedral, only the astronomical clock of the Priory of Castel was not damaged - they were saved only by the image of the Scottish thistle.

At the end of the 18th century, Durham Cathedral was in a deplorable state. In 1773, restoration of the cathedral began, during which the old chapter house building was rebuilt. It was planned to rebuild the Galilean Chapel, but the architects managed to avoid unnecessary destruction. They also restored the 13th-century rose window. A little less than a century later, the towers and courtyard of the cathedral were restored.

In 1986, Durham Castle and Cathedral were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is worth noting that despite numerous restoration works, the cathedral has retained all the features of the Romanesque architectural style.

The 1998 film Elizabeth was filmed in Durham Cathedral, and the cathedral was also the inspiration for the Hogwarts school building in the Harry Potter films. In 2009, 2011 and 2013, the cathedral hosted colorful festivals of light.