Durham Castle

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Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham in County Durham, England. It stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham's peninsula, opposite Durham Cathedral.

Durham Castle, seen here in front of the Cathedral.

Entrance to Durham Castle

Durham Castle - view from within the Castle courtyard

Durham Castle - view of the keep

1 History
2 Chapels
3 University College
4 World Heritage Site
5 External links

[edit] History

It was originally built in the 11th century to protect the Bishop of Durham from attack, as the population of England in the north remained "wild and fickle" following the disruption of the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is an excellent example of the early motte and bailey castles favoured by the Normans.

The castle has a vast Great Hall, created by Bishop Antony Bek in the early 14th century. It was the largest Great Hall in Britain until Bishop Richard Fox shortened it at the end of the 15th century. However, it is still 14 m high and over 30 m long.

[edit] Chapels

Durham Castle has two chapels: the Norman Chapel, built around 1078, and Tunstall's Chapel, built in 1540.

The Norman Chapel is the oldest accessible part of the castle. Its architecture is Saxon in nature, possibly due to forced Saxon labour being used to build it. In the 15th century, its three windows were all but blocked up because of the expanded keep. It thus fell into disuse until 1841 when it was used as a corridor for the keep. During the Second World War, it was used as a command and observation post for the Royal Air Force when its original use was recognised. It was re-consecrated shortly after the war and is still used for weekly services.

Tunstall's Chapel is the more heavily-used of the castle's chapels, being somewhat larger. Bishop Cosin and Bishop Crewe extended it in the late 17th century. At the back of the chapel, some of the seats are 16th-century misericords (literally, mercy seats). These were designed such that a person standing for long periods of time could rest on a ledge of the upturned seat.

[edit] University College

Main article: University College, Durham

In 1837, the castle was donated to the newly-formed University of Durham by Bishop Edward Maltby as accommodation for students. It was named University College. Architect Anthony Salvin rebuilt the dilapidated keep from the original plans. Opened in 1840, the castle still houses over 100 students, the majority of which are in the keep.

Students of the college now eat their meals in Bishop Bek's Great Hall, and use its Undercroft as a college bar. The two chapels are still used, both for services and other purposes such as theatrical performances. Other facilities contained within the castle include the college's library. During university vacations, the castle offers budget hotel accommodation or conference facilities. Access to the castle for the public is restricted to guided tours. Outside of these, only members of the college or hotel guests may visit the castle.

[edit] World Heritage Site

Durham Castle is jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, a short distance across Palace Green. The following quotation is taken from the British government's nomination for the World Heritage List:

Few buildings in England can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Durham Castle. Founded soon after the Norman Conquest, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to changing circumstances and uses over a period of 900 years.