Durham Castle

Durham Castle stands across Palace Green from the cathedral on the loop of the River Wear. However, to the north and east, it is surrounded by buildings and to the west by trees, making it rather less apparent. And as it has been used as a university college since 1837, it is not somewhere you can just wonder in.

However, over the summer you can rent rooms, and for a reunion of a friend who was at the college 40 years ago, I did just that.

This is a view of the castle from the railway viaduct - the cathedral being rather more prominent.


And the reverse - the view of the viaduct from the castle.


Construction of the motte and bailey began in 1072, the motte being the mound and the bailing being the tower - now considered the keep. I was sleeping in the room just up from the centre of the image. Despite being on the ground floor of the keep it was an 86-step climb to the room.


The view from the window.

The castle is laid out around a roughly pentagonal courtyard, with the keep at the eastern apex; the largest buildings, including the Great Hall on the west side; more buildings forming the north and northeast side; the gatehouse on the south side; and just a wall on the southeast side.

This is looking east where the northeast and southeast sides converge on the keep.


This is the north side.


Going through the door, right of centre, to the right is the Norman chapel, built ca. 1080. It fell into disuse, but during the war was a post for the RAF, and later used to store bikes. It was re-consecrated in the 50s. 


Pretty much above it is Tunstall's Chapel, built in the sixth century.



Heading west from there is this gallery.


A short way along, on the right, is this archway, considered the finest example of Norman arch. This would have been an external door originally, accessed by steps. The steps were removed when the gallery was built.


Stairs at the west end of the gallery. Note how the steps slope to the side. Also the finials - these are pineapples, carved by someone who has never actually seen one, just had them described.


The Great Hall, where I had breakfast - and was awarded my degrees many years ago.






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