Back in 2010 when we were working up in Inverewe we met a couple from Durham, Carolyn and John. Since then we’ve kept in touch but have not been able to meet up – until now! We spent the Easter weekend at their house and were spoilt rotten!
Saturday they took us into Durham city centre and we spent a good hour in the beautiful Cathedral. Built in the late 11th Century it was eventually the church of the Benedictine Monastery where the monks worked and prayed. Over the centuries, new towers were built and then the Chapel of the Nine Altars was completed in the late 13th Century. It is a fascinating structure with many aspects inside to keep you interested, even the front doors. In the Middle Ages people could seek protection from the law (if you were guilty) for so many days to enable you to sort your affairs out. You then either had to submit to the law or arrange passage out of the country on a boat.
Within the Cathedral is the Durham Light Infantry Chapel, where they conduct Turning of the Pages ceremonies remembering those who have fallen. We were surprised to see on the open page a T. Kilgallon who fell in WW1, we will be doing some research on this when we get back to Hereford. There is also a memorial to the Miners of Durham, one of the major industries in the County until the last closure in 1994.
Sadly they don’t allow photography inside so we’re unable to provide any pictures but their website is www.durhamcathedral.co.uk If ever you’re up this way it is well worth a visit.
Durham also has a Castle that is now used predominantly by the University so it is not open to visitors except for guided tours, and typically they were fully booked the day we went.
The city also had an outdoor market going on and it was really buzzing with activity, the place had a really nice feel to it and it is a city we’ll definitely come back to.
