We take a delve into the History Behind Durham Cathedral…

The Norman Conquest in 1066 was one of the most important events in English history. As the first Norman ruler of England, William the Conqueror began establishing a new English monarchy. We frequently discuss the effects this had on English culture, but we also need to acknowledge the significant effects it also had on English architecture.

William brought Norman architectural traditions to England, and Durham Cathedral, which is close to William’s palace, is the first outstanding example of this (Durham Castle). Durham Cathedral, the first of its sort and a fitting representation of a new, Norman England, occupies a significant place in history and architecture.

Origins 

Soon after William the Conqueror’s passing in 1093, construction on Durham Cathedral got underway. But why did this place need a church? That tale was first told by St. Cuthbert, the Bishop of Lindisfarne in the seventh century. In the ninth century, Lindisfarne monks escaped with St. Cuthbert’s remains before the casket became too heavy to lift out of fear of Viking assaults.

They constructed a shrine after interpreting this as proof that the saint had chosen this location as a suitable grave. It’s hardly unexpected that the monks chose this location for their new residence given that they were escaping Vikings; the peninsula is naturally protected by steep riverbanks. A church was constructed throughout the ensuing decades and developed into a well-liked destination for pilgrims.

William of Calais was chosen by William after arriving in England to become the first Prince-Bishop of Durham. The Bishop has many responsibilities. One of his duties was to defend and advance the faith. This task involved constructing a larger cathedral to hold St. Cuthbert’s relics and accommodate an increasing number of pilgrims. Additionally, the Venerable Bede’s remains, who was one of the most important thinkers in mediaeval England, were transported to Durham. Construction on the impressive Durham Cathedral started in 1093 after detailed plans had been made.

Building the Cathedral

Durham Cathedral intended to be totally composed of stone, unlike the majority of English cathedrals at the period, which were at least largely constructed of wood. That was significant. Since the fall of the Roman Empire, no one had fully mastered stone architecture, therefore this was a challenging project. One reason was that it needed a great deal of organisation and preparation since craftsmen and employees were hired. In addition, it needed a lot of stone—a lot more than the typical building at the time. Fortunately, a sandstone quarry was close by, but moving enough material required extensive planning, cooperation, and newly standardised quarrying techniques.

How the engineers would construct a building with a stone roof was the great unknown. Romanesque was the name of the period’s architectural style, which was more of a general trend in Europe than an united movement. Romanesque structures were entirely composed of stone, but only due to their extreme thickness, weight, and lack of windows were they able to carry that much weight.

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