Durham history

Durham: the City

Archaeological evidence suggests a history of settlement in the area since roughly 2000 BC. The present city can clearly be traced back to 995 AD, when a group of monks from Lindisfarne chose the strategic high peninsula as a place to settle with the body of Saint Cuthbert (which had previously lain in Chester-le-Street), founding a church there.

The name "Durham" comes from the Old English "dun", meaning hill, and the Old Norse "holme", which translates to island. Some attribute the city's name to the legend of the Dun Cow and the milkmaid who in legend guided the monks of Lindisfarne carrying the body of Saint Cuthbert to the site of the present city in 995 AD. The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly referred to as Durham Cathedral, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 1080, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093. The cathedral is regarded as one of the finest examples of Norman architecture and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with nearby Durham Castle, which faces it across Palace Green.

The castle was originally built in the 11th century as a projection of the Norman king's power in the north of England, 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. 

Durham: the University

The University of Durham was founded in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837. It was one of the first new universities to open in England for more than 600 years, and is claimed to be England's third oldest after Oxford and Cambridge, although other higher education institutions also make this claim.

Famous alumni include: former England rugby captains Will Carling and Phil de Glanville along with Vice-captain Will Greenwood. Olympic gold-medal triple jumper Jonathan Edwards graduated in 1987. Noted writers include Edward Bradley, author of The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, Minette Walters author of The Sculptress and The Scold's Bridle and Graham Hancock, author of The Sign and the Seal.