A Story of 1000-year British History in Durham

“There are two kings in England, namely the Lord King of England, wearing a crown in sign of his regality and the Lord Bishop of Durham, wearing a mitre in place of a crown, in sign of his regality in the diocese of Durham.”

- Steward of the Bishopric William de St Botolph, 1302.

Situated in North East England, Durham is 3 hours from London and 2 hours from Edinburgh by train. Its name originates from “Dun” and “holme”, which is an Old English word for hill and the Norse for island respectively. This county was used as a defense against the invasion of Scots to England thanks to the protection by the river on three sides and its hill-based location.

Founded in 995, Durham became a safe haven for the Anglo-Saxon monks to escape the Viking and to house the relics of St Cuthbert. It took William the Conqueror, the first Norman King of England, a 2-year campaign “Harrying of the North” to be accepted by the north. Durham Castle was constructed as a protection of the Norman rulers from the local rebellion.

It was part of the County Palatine of Durham until 1836. A semi-independent jurisdiction ruled by the prince bishops of Durham, but also a geopolitical buffer between the kingdoms of England and Scotland. During the Reformation, Bishop Tunstall had to return several privileges to the crown, aka the head of the new Protestant Church of England, Henry VIII.

Durham Castle remained the ceremonial center of power after the English Civil Wars. It served as a training site for the Royal Air Force in World War II. It is currently home to more than 1000 students of University College. Coupled with Durham Cathedral, which was built to replace the church after the Norman Conquest, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Peninsula.

As part of the Durham University, the Oriental Museum is a hidden gem encompassed by the Durham Castle. From Egyptian mummies to the Philippines statue of Virgin Mary. From Chinese zodiac sign to Japanese Daruma. Explore the art and archaeology of North Africa and Asia all in one museum, ranging from prehistoric to contemporary with 36k collections.

While the decolonisation of the British Empire commenced in the 19th century, its culture remains to conquer the current world. Alongside the medieval Cloister, the first two Harry Potter films were featured in Durham Cathedral. Remember how Professor Minerva McGonagall taught the students to turn animals into goblets in the Chapter House?

The Cloister with 4 covered walkways set around a central grassed area, the Cloister Garth. Built in the 11th century, it used to be the place where the monks study or meditate. As a blockbuster filming location, it was the “Asgard” where Thor traveled back in time and hid back the columns. Another superhero Rocket Racoon was later animated using Computer Generated Imagery.

The 12th century Galilee Chapel encompassed medieval wall paintings, sandstone pillars in the nave and the Rose Window in the Chapel of the Nine Altars. While you triumphed over the 325 steps in the central tower, you are able to enjoy an unrivaled view over this historic city adjacent to Durham Castle and alongside the tranquil atmosphere upon the River Wear.