Durham is a World Heritage city of remarkable architectural richness, with the castle, cathedral and town forming three contant elements in a history spanning menay centuries.
The arrival of the body of St Cuthbert onto the peninsula of Durham in 995 was the seminal event in the city's history. Its arrival was preceded by the fortification of the site: only then could the first wooden church be built to protect the shrine of the saint. The medieval successors - the castle and the cathedral - are fully described and illustrated in this insider's guide to the city.
The third element that made up medieval Durham - the town - is explored through the surviving evidence of its houses, churches, hospitals and manors.
The dissolution of the Priory of Durham Cathedral in 1539 hastened a gradual decline in the city's status, but the town stabilised and steadily expanded in the years 1550-1860. The buildings as well as those of the modern city are also fully described, as are the city's magnificent riverbanks, parks and gardens.
Contents:
Acknowledgements
Preface
1. Outline History
2. The Castle
3. The Cathedral
4. The Medieval Town
5. Durham 1550-1860
6. Parks and Gardens
7. The Modern City
A Tour of the City
Bishops of Durham
Further Reading
Glossary
Index
