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September 06, 2006 |
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The Land of The Prince
Bishop's |
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Durham Cathedral - Curry
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Durham the county south of Northumberland and the river Tyne is not to be missed
when visiting the area around Newcastle.
Durham the ancient Cathedral City is second only to York at the south of our region for
it's beauty and history.
Northumbria's
Christian heritage has a route from Lindisfarne to the Cathedral at Durham where
Saint Cuthbert was finally laid to rest in AD995.
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History of Durham City
The coffin of St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne was laid to rest on a rocky plateau 100
ft above the river Wear at Dunholm in AD 994. From this developed the City of Durham
described as one of the finest cities in Europe.
After his death in Ad 687 St
Cuthbert’s grave became a place of pilgrimage. Gifts of land and money were given to
the Lindisfarne monks, as the custodians of the saint’s body.
In 875 the monks moved to the
mainland to avoid the increasing Viking raids. Taking the body with them, they make their
way to Dunholm.
The wealth and power of the monks
soon increased and St. Cuthbert’s patrimony extended over most of the land surrounded
by the rivers Wear Tees and Tyne.
The city developed and by 1017
there was a small walled city on the Peninsular. This had proved its worth when an attack
by the Scots in 1006 was repulsed.
In 1066 the Normans arrived. A
stone minister was built to house the body of the saint.
Durham was recognised by them as an
established administration centre and a strategic position for controlling the borderlands
with the Scots.
In 1093 the minister was demolished
and the foundations for the finest Romanesque cathedral in Europe were laid.
The community saw the last of the
Northumbrian rulers and the Norman Bishops came to power. With the wealth and power of
these Bishops the city developed and prospered.
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Durham Cathedral - Curry
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The Modern City of Prince Bishops
The cathedral and the castle dominate the skyline of Durham today.
The medieval streets survive with the small city
sheltering on the banks of the river Wear.
Durham lies 22 km to the south of
Newcastle upon Tyne and 25 km north of Darlington. It is a few miles from the main London
to Edinburgh trunk road (A1M) and benefits from being a main station on the Edinburgh to
Kings Cross, London railway line.
Durham is also well served by the
local airports at Newcastle International and Teesside Regional Airport at Darlington and
European Ferries also sail into Newcastle upon Tyne & Hull.
Around the area you will find
beautiful countryside of the North Pennine's, Teesdale, and Weardale. To the north is
Hadrian’s Wall and the award winning North of England Open Air Museum at Beamish.
Football has a major
following in the area with Newcastle, Sunderland & Middlesbrough teams, also
Rugby is played at the highest level with Newcastle Falcons and West Hartlepool.
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Durham
Cathedral by
Ian Curry
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Beamish
Open Air Museum
At
Chester-le-Street south of Newcastle, Beamish portrays the Industrial Heritage
of the North of England. It accurately recreates life in the North in the early
part of the last century, with rebuilt buildings often moved to the site and
guides authentically dressed. The local shops, houses, sweet factory, school,
pub house and a Methodist chapel are open to view. There is also a drift mine, a
railway station operating steam trains, plus tram cars, to view, it must be
stressed the Beamish is an all day Educational Attraction.
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