Durham - built from the earliest times on a promontory surrounded on three sides by water, high up, is in a classic defensive position. The Cathedral is massive, almost fortress-like, maybe to intimidate the ever marauding Scots. It is also the only one in the country to have its monastery buildings remaining almost intact. In them at present they have an impressive exhibition of Viking treasures and also various objects from the 9th and 10th centuries pertaining to St Cuthbert. His remains are in a chantry in the Cathedral having been carried around for a considerable length of time after the Vikings raided Lindisfarne where he was originally buried.
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| Durham Castle & Cathedral |
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| Durham Cathedral |
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| Cathedral Green |
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| Pulpit |
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| Choir end of term photo |
The University was founded in the Castle and remains so although it now has many other additional buildings around the city. The keep is actually the newest part of the building, a 19th century rebuild of the decayed original, built as student accommodation.
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Castle gate, enlarged to enable
carriages to pass by rebuilding
it with thicker mortar joints |
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| Castle/ University |
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| So politically incorrect, |
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| Messing about on the river |
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| Umbrella Street |
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| Beautiful heron |
Crook Hall has three parts to it - medieval, Tudor and Jacobean, with later adaptations. It also has delightful gardens with “rooms” of varying themes and plenty of garden seats and waitresses to bring out afternoon tea. It was a perfect place to be on a steamy afternoon.
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| Crook Hall |
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Shakespeare garden with plants
mentioned in his work |
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| White garden |
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| Cathedral garden |
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| Medieval Hall |
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| Jacobean room |
