Interesting Facts About Durham: A City Like No Other

Durham packs an astonishing amount of history into a small space. From a saint whose body was carried around the North for a century to prince bishops who ruled like kings, here are some of the most interesting facts about the city of Durham, whether you live here or are just visiting.

The cathedral is the finest Norman building in England

Begun in 1093 and largely completed by 1133, Durham Cathedral is widely regarded as the greatest example of Norman (Romanesque) architecture in England, and its pioneering ribbed stone vaulting pointed the way towards the Gothic style. Together with Durham Castle, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

The city exists because of a saint

Durham owes its very existence to St Cuthbert. After Viking raids forced the monks to flee Lindisfarne, they carried his body around the North of England for over a hundred years before settling on Durham's rocky peninsula in 995. The cathedral was built to house his shrine, which remains behind the high altar to this day.

The father of English history is buried here

The cathedral also holds the tomb of the Venerable Bede, the 7th to 8th-century monk and scholar often called the father of English history. Among his many achievements, he did more than anyone to popularise dating years from the birth of Christ, the AD system we still use.

Durham had its own prince bishops

For centuries the Bishops of Durham were "prince bishops", ruling the County Palatine of Durham almost as independent monarchs, with their own army, courts, parliament and even coinage, to defend the turbulent border with Scotland. Few English cities have been governed quite so grandly.

The cloisters played Hogwarts

Film fans will recognise the cathedral's cloisters from the Harry Potter films, where they doubled as the snowy corridors and quadrangle of Hogwarts. The cathedral now draws well over half a million visitors a year.

A near-island fortress

The reason it all sits where it does is geography: the River Wear loops almost the whole way around the peninsula, creating a natural moat and a near-island that made Durham a superb defensive site, a city built for protection as much as prayer.

Explore more

There is far more where this came from. See our guides to Durham Cathedral, Durham Castle and walking Durham's World Heritage Site.

Know a great Durham fact we should add? Get in touch.