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INTERESTING INFORMATION IN AND AROUND DURHAM ALNWICK Web Link Still looks like a stronghold of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland. You may enter from the South through a narrow medieval arch of the Hotspur Tower and within moments confront the great barbican guarding the gateway to Alnwick Castle. Within the town, age speaks for itself from the narrow streets, cobblestones, passageways, sturdy grey buildings and monuments. The town grew up on the River Aln beside the great border castle whose walls enclose 7 acres. Below and around the castle are grounds landscaped by Capability Brown in 1765 which now form a beautiful park. The castle was begun by the Vesci family in the early 12th Century and outwardly the castle has altered little since the 14th Century. In the town a broad main street with slopping tree shaded cobblestone parking space alongside, passes near a market square. A free standing 18th Century hall has an arcade for shops on the ground floor and assembly rooms above. A very interesting town steeped in history and the ravages of this wild border country. The town name pronounced Annick, situated on the River Aln from which it gets its name, which in turn derives from the Celtic word Alaun meaning holy or mighty. Wick means a farm, outlying from a main settlement. The earliest known record or the River Aln is in the Venerable Bedes, ecclesiastical history of the English people written in Latin and dated 731, it appears as Fluuium Alne. WHITE SWAN HOTEL Web Link One superb feature of the hotel is the Olympic Suite. Ceiling, floors and walls are all made with the hand carved oak panelling from the smoking room of the S.S. Olympic, built in 1911 and dismantled in 1936. The Olympic of course was the sister ship of the S.S. Titanic. The rooms are handsomely furnished, there is a very welcoming lounge as well as a superb restaurant with a cuisine to match. DURHAM Web Link It is not the lover of architecture who will be thrilled by Durham. It is one of the most visually exciting cities in Britain. The magnificent Norman Cathedral and the castle stand proudly on a sandstone hill almost enclosed by a steep banked wooded bend of the River Wear. It is a scene well worth looking at from every vantage point. The best views are obtained from the railway station, Prebends Bridge, South Street, Gilesgate and also Palace Green. The castle was built in 1069 by the Norman invaders and the town grew up under the castle walls between the two river crossings at Elvet and Framwellgate. Durham is not a large city but is a centre of local government and education (Durham University was created as the third university in England by an act of Parliament in 1832) DURHAM CATHEDRAL Web Link The Cathedral was founded as a shrine for the body of St Cuthbert. When Viking raids forced the monks on Lindisfarne to flee in 875. They carried with them the body of the Saint, they reached Durham in 995 after time at Chester Le Street and Ripon. In Durham the coffin seemed to become rooted to the ground and the spot for the new shrine was revealed in a vision. By 998 they had built a church (nothing remains of this early building) it quickly became a place of Pilgrimage. The Bishops became Prince Bishops of Durham giving the City the right to raise armies, own nobility, coinage and courts. All these privileges were ended in 1836. The present Cathedral Church of Christ and Blessed Mary the Virgin was built between 1093 and 1133 to a plan of Bishop William of Calais. He died but the work continued under Bishop Flambard. It is possibly the finest Norman building in Europe. St Cuthbert’s body was brought to his shrine behind the high altar in 1104. The Cathedral was the first in Northern Europe to be covered with stone ribbed vaulting and it has the earliest pointed transverse arches in England. There are few monuments because of a long held rule that no one should be buried in the shrine of St Cuthbert. From the South side aisle a door leads to the Monks dormitory, a great timbered hall 194ft by 39ft where some of the Cathedrals prized possessions can be seen. They include St Cuthbert’s illuminated manuscripts. In front of the font is a line of marble, the nearest point that women were allowed to get to the altar. Almost no amount of time is to long to spend in this unique place of worship. ESCOMB CHURCH Web Link A place of Christian worship for over 1,300 years. It is impossible to tell who built this little church, when, or why in this particular location. Though not mentioned by Bede the fabric is definitely 7th Century. Archaeologists consider somewhere between 670 & 690AD. Built of reused Roman stone. The circular (Celtic) churchyard and sloping walls are evidence of the Irish influence prior to the Synod of Whitby in 664AD. The south wall offers visitors a window each of Saxon, Norman & Gothic traditions whilst the old cobbled flooring in the Nave could well be Saxon. The church is not large or a real architectural gem, it sits so simple in the landscape, its importance really magnifies the Christian faith of endurance and those who work tirelessly to preserve such wonderful buildings. HARRISON & HARRISON Web Link The firm was started by Thomas Harrison in Rochdale in 1861 and moved to Durham in 1872. After 124 years in the City Centre the firm moved in 1996 to a new purpose built workshop on the City boundary. HEXHAM ABBEY Web Link Two contrasting church styles set in one building. The old church to the East comprising the magnificent crossing and chancel. Together with Temple Moore’s Scholastic Nave started in 1905 to the West. Hexham as suffered more than most from its prime location, not far from Hadrian’s Wall. The 7th Century foundation by St Wilfred was burnt and plundered by the Vikings. The restored Augustine Priory re-founded in 1113 was then attacked by the Scots under William Wallace at the end of the 13th Century, the Nave was destroyed and not rebuilt. Therefore it is to the East End one naturally is drawn, early Gothic architecture in a Parish Church. It is in this area where the transept is dominated by the Priory’s famous night staircase. Described by many as one of the finest monastic relics in an English church. A treasure trove of architectural gems. Lest not forget the Crypt, beneath the Nave a Saxon tunnel vaulted chamber built primarily of Roman stones its arch reputedly dating from the 7th Century. Many Celtic and Roman relics of their occupation adorn the fabric of this lovely Church HOLY ISLAND (LINDISFARNE) Web Link Is famed as the birthplace of English Christianity. A 3-mile causeway connects the island with the mainland at low tide and can be crossed during six hour spells between tides. Approx 300 people live on the island, with fishing and tourism the main employment. In 635AD St Aidan came on the invitation of King Oswald from Iona on the West coast of Scotland to teach Christianity to the Angles of Northumbria. Lindisfarne monastery was established and the first English diocese founded. The sixth bishop was St Cuthbert who came to the island in 664AD and was buried here until the monks fled with his coffin ahead of the Danes in 875AD. The Danes destroyed the abbey and the island lay deserted until a priory was founded by a Benedictine order in the 11th Century. ST CUTHBERT Cuthbert was born in the North of England about 633AD. it is known he became a shepherd. Awake one night while watching his sheep he had a vision of angels carrying the soul of Aidan up to heaven. Now Aidan was the monk who came from the Isle of Iona to be a missionary to the Northumbrians and founded the monastery at Lindisfarne. It is written on seeing the vision Cuthbert went straight to the nearest monastery at Melrose and became a monk. He journeyed as a missionary and spent time at Ripon and Melrose before arriving at Lindisfarne at the age of 30. While he was prior at Lindisfarne he became famous for his healing powers. However he wanted more from his life, and at first tried seclusion not far from the monastery on a little island now marked with a cross. After a while he wanted even more seclusion and moved to an island even more remote and even further from the monastery. After many trials and tribulations he eventually died on the 20th march 687AD on his island at Inner Farne. ST OSWALD—SAINT & KING Web Link Born about 604 the son of the Pagan King Aethelfrith. When the King was removed from his throne in 617, Oswald, his brothers and sister took refuge in the island monastery of Iona on the West coast of Scotland, founded by St Columba in 563. Here they were baptised and taught the Christian faith. Oswald reclaimed his fathers throne in 634 when he defeated the forces of Cadwallon King of Gwynedd. He established himself at Bamburgh Castle and on regaining his rightful throne sent a message to Iona for a Bishop to convert his people to Christianity. Hence the arrival of Aidan from Iona. Oswald gave Aidan the island of Lindisfarne where a monastery was built and run similar to the Iona community. From here Irish missionaries went out amongst the people contributing to the conversion to Christianity of the Anglo Saxon Kingdoms of England. In 642 Penda the last pagan king of Mercia rebelled and Oswald met him in battle at Maserfield on the Welsh border. Oswald was killed by a axe cleaving the back of his skull. Eventually his head was taken to Lindisfarne, his arm to Banburgh Church and other parts of his remains distributed round his kingdom. When the congregation of Lindisfarne decided to leave the island in 875 after the Viking raids, the head was placed in St Cuthberts coffin and transported with them around Northumbria until the final resting place was eventually established in Durham during the year 995. Oswald`s head still rests with the remains of St Cuthbert behind the high altar of Durham Cathedral and pictures often depict St Cuthbert holding the head of Oswald. Miracles where claimed from the place where he fell in battle and miracles told about contact with his remains. This soon made him a popular person and Sainthood followed—----hence we have St Oswald. ST PAULS JARROW Web Link The parish church of St Pauls Jarrow has been a place of worship for 13 Centuries. The Church & Monastery was built on land given by King Ecgfrith of Northumbria in 681AD. The Chancel of St Pauls is the original Saxon church built as a separate chapel and thus offers at least a relic of Bede`s time. Much of the cut stone is Roman, do look for the three single splayed Saxon windows, the middle one containing Saxon stained glass made in the monastic workshops, it was excavated from the site in 1980 and inserted here in the chancel. Reputedly the oldest such glass in Western Europe. The monastery where Bede came as a boy thrived in the 7th & 8th Centuries. Outside the church are the remains of the domestic buildings of that monastery, it was here that he lived, worked and worshipped. The buildings where sacked by the Vikings in 794AD. It was not until 1074 that the church was repaired by the Normans and the monastery re-founded by Aldwin, Prior of Winchcombe Abbey in Gloucestershire. Do look for the original dedication stone of 685 (above the chancel arch) supposedly the oldest in England. Although St Martins church Canterbury does predate Jarrow by maybe 100 years and therefore holds the honour of oldest church in England. ST OSWALDS CHURCH Web Link
The
recovery of two parts of a 9th Century Anglo-Saxon sculptured cross
shaft from the 15th Century towers West wall and the discovery of two
cross shafts and part of a cross head of the 10th or 11th
Century found during the 19th Century suggests an ancient foundation,
even a church on the site before the community of St Cuthbert settled on the
Durham peninsula in 995. Surveys have since suggested evidence of a pre Norman
building underlying the current structure. In 1825 the church was declared dangerous and temporarily closed. Proposal’s to demolish the church were bought forward but due to the opposition of parishioners, drastic repairs and restoration work followed in 1834. A vestry was added north of the chancel, the clerestory renewed and the fine 15th Century nave roof was replaced. Further work was undertaken in 1864 to rebuild the chancel which had become unstable. Stained glass by Ford Madox Brown of William Morris and Co was inserted in the West window. A second vestry was added in 1883 The organ of 1864 replaced in 1915 & 1979 was destroyed in a deliberate fire on Ash Wednesday 1984. The fire not only destroyed the organ but caused much damage to the church and especially the chancel. All where restored and in 1988 a new organ was completed. Planned by Nicholas Thislethwaite, designed by Henry Moss and built by Peter Collins it occupies a new West Gallery. The site has been the place of a Christian foundation for 1100 years and continues to serve the needs of its parishioners DR JOHN BACCHUS DYKES (1823-76) Web Link Was the Vicar of St Oswalds from 1862 to 1876. Amongst his many notable hymns which are still in wide use, are “Nicaea” commonly sung to the words “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty”. “Wir pflugen”, harmonised by Dykes and commonly sung to the words “We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land”. “Melita” sung to the words “For those in peril on the sea” “Gerontious” sung to the words “Praise to the holiest in the height” “Dominus regit me” Sung to the words “The king of love my shepherd is” Dr Dykes was also involved with the Classic Victorian Hymn book “Hymns Ancient & Modern” and wrote a number of tunes for the book. He his buried in the extension churchyard opposite the church. VENERABLE BEDE Web Link Born probably in 673. In 670 he was sent school in Monkwearmouth but stayed only two years before being sent to Jarrow in 672. He loved knowledge and found the libraries of St Pauls fascinating. He enjoyed astronomy, numbers, Latin and wrote the life of St Cuthbert. He also wrote a famous history book. The first of its kind about the English church and people. As well as over 60 works of biblical interpretation. He loved the bible and was working on St Johns Gospel when he died on May 25th 735. He was 62 years old. He was buried in Jarrow. During the 11th Century his bones were stolen and brought to Durham. At the time they were put in the same coffin as St Cuthbert. However in the 13th Century they were separated and brought to a new tomb in the Galilee Chapel also in Durham Cathedral. Words attributed to Bede. CHRIST IS THE MORNING STAR WHO WHEN THE NIGHT OF THIS WORLD IS PAST BRINGS TO HIS SAINTS THE PROMISE OF THE LIGHT OF LIFE AND OPENS EVERLASTING DAY. YORK Web Link The fascinating townscape of this walled city illustrates much of its nearly 2,000 years history. York possesses in its Minster the largest medieval church in Northern Europe, the general scale of its buildings is small and human. Even today York seems more medieval than almost any other English town. The compact core is a treasure house for anyone interested in history, architecture or ancient crafts, and is best seen on foot. The Romans called the place Eboracum, and built a fort in 71AD, . Under the Angles, York was capital of their Kingdom of Deira. King Edwin was baptised here by Paulinus, who became the first Archbishop of York in 634AD. The Danes captured and burnt York in 867AD and it was their capital in England for nearly 100 years, they called it Jorvik and it is from this that the present name derives. Anglo Saxon and Danish York left nothing to see, but the use of the word gate for Street is a reminder that the Danes did settle here. The Norman's found a thriving little trading centre and burnt it in 1069 during their frightful ravaging of the North, and then rebuilt the walls, expanding them to take the present 263 acres. Medieval York is everywhere, not least in the web of narrow streets. The Shambles and stone gate are two of the best preserved examples. To the East of the Minster is the half timbered St William's College. Three of the nine guildhalls still survive. Above all the city walls are Medieval rebuilt on the Roman and Norman foundations in the 13th Century. A 2.5 mile footpath on the walls gives a circular tour of the city. In the Middle ages, York was England's second city a great religious and commercial centre. A lovely city with much to see and enjoy. YORK MINSTER Web Link The Minster is the city's chief glory, appropriate to the dignity of an Archbishopric. Built between 1220 and 1470, it contains England's greatest concentration of medieval stained glass, principally from the 13th and 14th Centuries. The two most famous windows being the five Sisters and the magnificent 15th Century East window, the largest in the world. The Ministers length is 518ft and is 241ft wide at the transept. The central tower rises 198ft and is the largest lantern tower in Britain. The 14th Century chapter house with seven lovely window walls has no central support for its conical roof, just the great buttresses on the eight sides. The choir was completed by 1400 and its great climax the East window with 2,000 sq ft of ancient glass by John Thornton of Coventry was finished in 1408. The massive towers came last.
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