Durham: 1000 Years of History (Paperback)

Durham is a World Heritage city of remarkable architectural richness, with the cathedral, castle and town forming three constant elements in a history spanning many centuries. The arrival of the body of St Cuthbert onto the peninsula of Durham in 995 was the seminal event in the city's history. Its arrival was preceded by the fortification of the site: only then could the first wooden church be built to protect the shrine of the saint. The medieval successors - the castle and the cathedral - are fully described and illustrated in this insider's guide to the city. The third element that made up medieval Durham - the town - is explored through the surviving evidence of its houses, churches, hospitals and manors. The dissolution of the Priory of Durham Cathedral in 1539 hastened a gradual decline in the city's status but the town stabilized and steadily expanded in the years 1550-1860. The buildings of these years, as well as those of the modern city, are also fully described, as are the city's magnificent riverbanks, parks and gardens. An architect and member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, Martin Roberts is the Inspector of Historic Buildings for the North East Region of the English Heritage. He is also the founder and secretary of the North East Vernacular Architecture Group and lectures on architecture and garden history throughout the region. He and his family have lived in West Aukland for many years.