The History of Durham Cathedral

There are very few buildings anywhere that can compare with Durham Cathedral. Built in 1093 to house the shrine of St Cuthbert, it was completed in less than 50 years, making it a rare and almost perfect example of Norman or Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture - unspoilt by later rebuilding.

Cuthbert's Shrine
The cathedral was built to hold the body of St Cuthbert, the monk who became Bishop of Lindisfarne and whose body was rescued and hidden many times during the Viking raids of the 8th century. To protect his body, the monks carried it on their wanderings until they arrived in Durham in 995 and built a shrine in the White Church - this was later replaced by the Cathedral we see today.

Cuthbert is described by Bede (who wrote the first history of the English people, and who is also buried in the church) as 'unassumingly patient and kindly to all who came to him for comfort'. There is a story that the head of King Oswald, the 7th-century King of Northumbria, also lies in Cuthbert's tomb. St Oswald, St Cuthbert and St Bede all have bells named after them in the cathedral tower.

Natural Defences
Like the castle which stands next to it, Durham Cathedral sits on a naturally defended site - on a loop in the River Wear, almost cut off by water and protected by a steep gorge. It is nearly 200 metres long and the central tower was added in the 15th century. The dimensions, huge vaulted roof and massive stone piers are just as the Norman architects intended.

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