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Durham Cathedral. Photo by Suicasmo.-

Top 10 Interesting facts about Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral is a religious building that is located in the city of Durham, England. It was built in 1903 to house the shrine of St Cuthbert. Cathedral is an example of the largest and the finest magnificent Romanesque architecture and spectacular location in heart of Durham World Heritage Site. Durham Cathedral has been a place of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. It is also the resting place of the Venerable Bede.

The Durham Cathedral is famous for occupying a strategic position on a hill above the worn river and its central tower. It has a height of 200feet high that gives a complete view of Durham and the surrounding area. Cathedral lies within the precinct of Durham castle.

Durham Cathedral is the central tower where visitor conquers the 325 steps and enjoy unrivalled views over historic Durham city. Some of the interesting facts about the Durham Cathedral include;

1. Tunstall chapel was named after its builder

Tunstall Chapel. Photo by Tomasz -Wikimedia commons –

The chapel was part of other chapels in the castle. It was named after the builder.  the chapel was constructed by Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall. in 1540. The chapel was completed in the first days of the reformation to break away from the roman catholic church and turn into English history. It has a modern stained glass window that replaced the original one. It was smashed by a runaway lawnmower. The Tunstall chapel continues to be used for religious services and other times for concerts. Durham Polyphony the university group that specializes in medieval and renaissance music perform a concert of Tudor music in celebration of the world heritage day.

2. Cathedral has sense and change of face of fashion

Cathedral had a clock since 1360. The present one is from 1632 through Victoria didn’t like it. The case of the clock was removed and mounted the face on the wall. While the case was stored in the upper levels of the Cathedral. Later in 1938, it was restored by the friends of Durham Cathedral with the original wooden case. The original clock had only an hour’s hand. That is why there are 48 quarter-hour divisions on the face.

3. Durham Cathedral has a black staircase

The staircase was named the black staircase because it was made from dark oak wood.  Its name refers to its dark colour which is very dark brown and not black. The black staircase was constructed by Bishop John Cosin in the late 17th century. He inherited the bishopric of Durham after the English civil war.

The staircase was designed as a flying staircase meaning it had no vertical supports

4. Worshipping at Cathedral was suspended during the civil war

Durham Cathedral and Castle. Photo by Vik Walker –

Worship at the cathedral was suspended due to the English civil war between 1650 and 1651. It was used as a prison for 2500 Scottish prisoners of war. They burned anything wooden to keep them at war except the clock. The medieval prior clock was left untouched because it was a thistle engraved on the clock- the emblem of Scotland. The prisoner respected it too much to destroy

5. Durham Cathedral  has a graveyard

Cathedral was built as the monument to the revered St. Cuthbert for a long time and nobody was allowed to be buried there. Though in 14-century rules changed and the Neville family of Raby was also buried in Durham Cathedral.

Bishop Hatfield was the great friend of king Edward III. The two fought together at the battle of Crecy in 1346. The Bishop asked the King if he could use the king’s coat of arms and depiction of the royal face on his tomb. Bishop Hatfield’s tomb is the only non-royal tomb that has the royal likeness and coat of arms on it.

The Scottish prisoners of war who suffered and died in Durham for 350 years were buried. After the battle of Dunbar in1650 in which an English force led by Oliver Crowell overcame a large Scottish army. Thousands of defeated soldiers were marched to Durham where 3500 were packed into the Cathedral. The biggest building in the north of England.

6. Cathedral houses the medieval tomb of Ralph Neville 

Neville tomb. Photo by Obobson –

Ralph Neville was great benefactor of the Cathedral. The figure surrounding his tomb are said to be representing the Ralph’s 19 children. These figures are known as weepers. All figure face outwards apart one. It is believed that the figure represents the one son that Ralph did not like.

7. Cathedral is the oldest surviving building with  a tone vaulted ceiling of large scale

It is valuable because Norman architecture has survived. The Durham Cathedral has been continuously used since its original construction 900 years ago. Cathedral remain a place of worship and pilgrimage and important visitors attraction site.

8. Bishop’s throne is the highest throne in Christendom

Cathedral at Durham claim to be the highest in Christendom. It was built by Bishop Thomas Hatfield(1345-1381)with his tom below it. The tomb was the only one in the Cathedral to escape the destruction during the reformation. 

9.Durham Cathedral Museum

Cathedral Museum is the right place to explore 200 years of the North East’s history, culture and faith .It has an original 15-century oak timber roof.

It has an octagonal great kitchen which is close to the treasures of St Cuthbert. The treasures include of his hand carved 7th century wooden coffin and his iconic pectoral cross. One experiences the sounds and smells of daily life at Durham Cathedral for centuries in the Monks Dormitory.  It was the living space for Benedictine monks.

one can access the newest exhibitions such as crown and Cathedral Durham’s Royal stories. It is an intimate gallery showcasing. snapshots of Durham’s changing relationship with monarchs over the centuries. One is able to see the unique items from the museum collection such as the royal cope worn by the bishop of Durham at the coronations of Queen Elizabeth II, George VI  and Edward VII

10. Cathedral has famously appeared as the filming location for the Harry potter film series

Harry potter’s school. Photo by Danie Van Der Merwe – Wikimediacommons–

Durham Cathedral was used as many part of Hogwarts in the philosopher’s stone and chamber of secrets. The cloisters of Cathedral is where Harry flies Hedwig in the snow on the first year. The spot where Ron vomits slugs in the chamber of secrets. Cathedral chapter house is the professor Mc Gonagall’s classroom  where the class transfigured goblets into rats