Durham Castle and Cathedral, World Heritage Site in United Kingdom

Located near the border with Scotland, Durham Cathedral was built between the late 11th and early 12th centuries. It is unique in that it is the largest Norman building in England and is also a structure that includes the Gothic style of vaulted ceiling runs. Nearby Durham Castle, a Norman fortress converted into the residence of the Bishop of Durham, is now a university student residence.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why Durham Castle and Cathedral are World Heritage Sites in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral!

What is Durham Castle and Cathedral?

Durham is a city located in northeastern England, near the national church with Scotland.The cathedral and castle are situated on a small hill formed along the River Wear.The city originated in the 10th century when the community that worshipped St. Cuthbert, who were active on the nearby island of Lindisfarne, were attacked by Vikings and moved to this area in fear of them.

Later, the Bishop of Durham became a lord bishop who provided both religious and political leadership, and he ruled the area for nearly 1,000 years with his cathedral and castle as his center.

Durham Cathedral

A symbol of Durham with its two 66-meter-high towers, the cathedral was founded in 1093 and assumed its present form in the 15th century. The cathedral was built on the grounds of Durham Castle, which was built by order of William I, the founder of the Norman dynasty, to house the bodies of the saints St. Cuthbert, St. Oswald, and St. Bede.

Built in the Norman Romanesque style, it also has elements of the Gothic style, as it has a special rib vault, which is supported by crossed diagonal arched ceilings.

Durham Castle

It was built by William I in the 11th century as a frontline base with Scotland. When a cathedral was built in Durham, the Bishop of Durham also assumed the role of political leader, and the castle became his residence. The Great Hall, built in the early 14th century, was once the largest in England, and is still a great hall, 30 meters long and 14 meters high.

Since 1840, the entire castle area has been used as a dormitory for students of Durham University, and the fortified part was converted into a dormitory. Some of the buildings on the site, such as the Norman chapel, retain their appearance from the 11th century.

For what reason are Durham Castle and Cathedral on the World Heritage List?

Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral were evaluated by

Registration Criteria (ii)
The cathedral is the largest and most magnificent Norman building in England.

Registration Criteria (iv)
The cathedral was an experimental building, with some innovative architectural styles, such as the Rive Vault, which supports the arched ceiling with crossed diagonals.

Registration Criteria (vi)
The point is that Durham was a place that linked the Christian mission and monastic life in the surrounding area.

World Heritage Mania Conclusions and Thoughts

Durham is an unusual municipality in that it was ruled by a bishop, which tells us that the bishop had the status and resources to maintain such a large cathedral for so long. And while the sheer scale of the Norman architecture is wonderful, another point to appreciate is the early adoption of the Rive Vault, which has been common in England since then.

Incidentally, the cathedral has also appeared as a location for the “Harry Potter” series, and the interior of the cathedral is fully wizarding school-like, making it a must-see for fans.

*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts. As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.