Durham Castle

Construction of the castle, of the motte and bailey design favoured by the Normans, began in 1072 under the orders of William the Conqueror, six years after the Norman conquest of England, and soon after the Normans first came to the North. The construction took place under the supervision of Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria, until he rebelled against William and was executed in 1076.{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/architecture/castle|title=Durham Castle|publisher=Durham World Heritage Site|access-date=19 September 2019}} Stone for the new buildings was cut from the cliffs below the walls and moved up using winches.{{cite web |url=https://britishheritage.com/durham-of-the-prince-bishops|title=Durham of the Prince Bishops|publisher=British Heritage|access-date=29 October 2019 }}

The holder of the office of the bishop of Durham, Bishop Walcher at the time, was appointed by the king to exercise royal authority on his behalf, with the castle being his seat. Adding to his status by the purchase of the Earldom of Northumbria, Walcher began a line of prince-bishops which continued until the Bishops of Durham lost their temporal powers under the Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836.{{cite book |date=1836 |title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |url=https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk34britgoog |quote=bishop of durham temporal Powers by Palatine Act 1836. |publisher=His Majesty's Statute and Law Printers|page=[https://archive.org/details/statutesunitedk34britgoog/page/n164 130]}} The prince-bishops were entitled to raise an army, levy taxes and mint their own coinage. The wide remit granted them by the English crown allowed them virtual autonomy to act as a defence both against Scottish incursions from the north, and internal rebellions.{{cite web |url=https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/history/prince-bishops |title=The Prince Bishops of Durham |date=11 July 2011 |publisher=Durham World Heritage Site |access-date=5 November 2019 }}

Walcher continued the building of the castle, as a combination of bishops' palace and defensive stronghold. Inner and outer baileys and a keep were constructed. The earliest structures may have been of wood, but there is evidence of building in stone from the end of the 11th century.{{cite web|url=https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/architecture/castle|title=Durham Castle|publisher=United Nations|access-date=29 October 2019}} In May 1080, the castle was attacked and besieged for four days by rebels from Northumbria and Bishop Walcher was killed.

In the 12th century, Bishop Pudsey (Hugh de Puiset) built the Norman archway and the Galilee of the cathedral.{{cite book |date=1892 |title=The Castle, Durham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEi2GDQxZaAC&q=bishop+pudsey+durham+castle+de+Puiset&pg=PA1 |publisher=T. Caldcleugh |page=1}} In 1177, King Henry II of England seized the castle after a disagreement with de Puiset.{{cite book |date=1790 |title=The Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce, and Manufacture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UQwHAAAAQAAJ&q=bishop+walcher+durham+prince+killed+in+1080+castle+besieged&pg=PA859 |page=859}} Other major alterations were made by Bishop Thomas Hatfield in the 1300s, including a rebuilding of the keep and enlargement of the keep mount.{{cite web|title='The city of Durham: The castle', in A History of the County of Durham: Volume 3 |first=William |last=Page |location=London|year=1928|pages=64–91|publisher= British History Online|url= http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol3/pp64-91 |access-date= 19 September 2019}}

The castle has a large Great Hall, originally called a Dining Hall, created by Bishop Antony Bek in the early 14th century; Bishop Hatfield added a wooden minstrels' gallery. The hall was modified and enlarged, then reduced, in size by subsequent bishops.{{cite web|url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/durham/vol3/pp64-91|title=The City of Durham - The Castle, 1928|publisher=British History Online|access-date=29 October 2019}}{{cite book |date=1892 |title=The Castle, Durham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEi2GDQxZaAC&q=bishop+pudsey+durham+castle+de+Puiset&pg=PA1 |publisher=T. Caldcleugh |pages=4–5}} Today, the Hall is {{convert|14|m}} high and over {{convert|30|m}} long.

{{main|University College, Durham}}

The Castle remained the bishop's palace for the Bishop of Durham until Auckland Castle was made the bishops' residence in 1832; the current bishop still maintains offices at that castle, roughly ten miles to the south. Subsequently, Durham castle was donated to the University of Durham by Bishop William Van Mildert and would later become the college.{{cite web|url=https://www.britainexpress.com/counties/durham/az/durham/castle.htm|title=Durham Castle|publisher=Britain Express|access-date=29 October 2019}} The college did not occupy the castle until 1837, after the next Bishop, Edward Maltby, had completed renovations of the building.{{cite web|url=https://www.dur.ac.uk/van-mildert.college/about/history/william-van-mildert/|title=Van Mildert and the Foundation of Durham University|publisher=Durham University|access-date=19 September 2019}}

The cathedral was targeted for a Baedeker Blitz or bombing raid by Germany but escaped because fog rolled in and blocked the pilots' view.{{cite web |url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/tourist-guidebook-helped-nazis-to-blitz-british-cities/|title=The tourist guidebook that helped Nazis to blitz British cities|date=1 March 2016 |publisher=Fortune |access-date=17 April 2019}}

The Norman Chapel is the oldest accessible part of the castle built about 1078. Its architecture is Anglian in nature, possibly due to forced Anglian labour being used to build it. In the 15th century, its three windows were all but blocked up because of the expanded keep. It fell into disuse until 1841 when it was used as a corridor through which to access the keep. During the Second World War, it was used as a command and observation post for the Royal Air Force. The chapel was re-consecrated shortly after the war and is still used for weekly services by the college.{{cite web|last=University College chapels|title= History, Chapels of University College, Durham|url=http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.chapel/history.php|access-date = 13 December 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110514091804/http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.chapel/history.php|archive-date = 14 May 2011|url-status = dead|df= dmy-all}}

Tunstall's Chapel, named after Cuthbert Tunstall, was built in the 16th century and is used for worship within the college.[http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.chapel/ College Chapels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404013226/http://www.dur.ac.uk/castle.chapel/ |date=4 April 2013 }} Retrieved December 2010 It was modified in the 17th century by Bishop Cosin.{{cite book |date=1892 |title=The Castle, Durham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cEi2GDQxZaAC&q=bishop+pudsey+durham+castle+de+Puiset&pg=PA1 |publisher=T. Caldcleugh |page=2}}

Durham Castle is jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, a short distance across Palace Green.{{NHLE|num=1000089|desc=Durham Castle and Cathedral|access-date=29 October 2019}}

The UNESCO report provides specifics about the Castle's important aspects:{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/370/|title=Durham Castle and Cathedral|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=29 October 2019}}

Within the Castle precinct are later buildings of the Durham Palatinate, reflecting the Prince-Bishops’ civic responsibilities and privileges. These include the Bishop’s Court (now a library), almshouses, and schools. Palace Green, a large open space connecting the various buildings of the site once provided the Prince Bishops with a venue for processions and gatherings befitting their status, and is now still a forum for public events.

Seventeen elements of the castle are listed, all at the highest Grade, I. These are: the keep, the north and west ranges, the entrance gatehouse, a bastion and twelve sections of the castle walls.*Durham Castle: Keep {{NHLE|num=1322868|desc=Durham Castle: Keep|grade=I|access-date=25 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: North Range {{NHLE|num=1160921|desc=Durham Castle: North Range|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: West Range {{NHLE|num=1121383|desc=Durham Castle: West Range|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Gatehouse, entrance gateway, side walls, linking walls and front wall {{NHLE|num=1322867|desc=Durham Castle: Gatehouse, entrance gateway, side walls, linking walls and front wall|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Bastion behind No. 50 and attached wall {{NHLE|num=1322897|desc=Durham Castle: Bastion behind No. 50 and attached wall|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Terrace wall, castle wall behind No.s 7-18 consecutive {{NHLE|num=1323246|desc=Durham Castle: Terrace wall, castle wall behind No.s 7-18 consecutive|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Wall around motte on west, north and east sides {{NHLE|num=1120631|desc=Durham Castle: Wall around motte on west, north and east sides|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Wall behind Hatfield College {{NHLE|num=1121422|desc=Durham Castle: Wall behind Hatfield College|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Wall behind No.3 {{NHLE|num=1322845|desc=Durham Castle: Wall behind No.3|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Wall behind Nos. 16-22 and No.22a (St Chad's) {{NHLE|num=1121431|desc=Durham Castle: Wall behind Nos. 16-22 and No.22a (St Chad's)|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Wall behind Nos. 26-28 {{NHLE|num=1310622|desc=Durham Castle: Wall behind Nos. 26-28|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Terrace wall north of Bow Lane {{NHLE|num=1120714|desc=Durham Castle: Terrace wall north of Bow Lane|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle walls: Terrace wall south of Bow Lane and east of Kingsgate {{NHLE|num=1159233|desc=Durham Castle walls: Terrace wall south of Bow Lane and east of Kingsgate|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle: Durham Castle walls: Wall behind Nos. 12 and 12a {{NHLE|num=1161398|desc=Durham Castle walls: Wall behind Nos. 12 and 12a |grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle walls: Wall behind St John's College from Nos. 1 to 11 consecutive, and garden house attached behind No.11 {{NHLE|num=1322901|desc=Durham Castle walls: Wall behind St John's College from Nos. 1 to 11 consecutive, and garden house attached behind No.11|grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle walls: Wall to west of No.13 {{NHLE|num=1121334|desc=Durham Castle walls: Wall to west of No.13 |grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}} *Durham Castle walls: Walls attached to No.s 12 to 15 {{NHLE|num=1120695|desc=Durham Castle walls: Walls attached to No.s 12 to 15 |grade=I|access-date=28 January 2023|ref=none}}

Durham Castle, April 2017 (18) (33687759022).jpg|Entrance to Bishop Bek's Great Hall

Durham Castle, April 2017 (12) (33843774815).jpg|Inside Bishop Bek's Great Hall

Durham Castle (27999239856).jpg|Durham Castle

Durham Castle, April 2017 (4) (33802918126).jpg|The original great hall range with later adaptations

Durham Castle, April 2017 (2) (33802921566).jpg|The entrance to Durham Castle, remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries

• Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
• List of castles in England

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• [https://www.dur.ac.uk/durham.castle/ Durham Castle - Durham University]
• [https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/architecture/castle Durham Castle - Durham World Heritage site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140112173805/http://www.widdisons.co.uk/tour/ A Tour of Durham Cathedral & Castle]

{{World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom}}

{{CastlesCDT&W}}

Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 11th century

Castle

Category:World Heritage Sites in England

Category:Houses in County Durham

Category:Castles in County Durham

Category:Grade I listed buildings in County Durham

Category:Grade I listed castles

Category:Grade I listed educational buildings

Category:Historic house museums in County Durham

Category:Motte-and-bailey castles

Category:Museums of Durham University

Category:Episcopal palaces of the bishops of Durham

Category:University College, Durham

Category:Norman castles