81-566: Elvet is an area of the city of Durham , in County Durham , England. It is situated on the opposite side of the River Wear from Durham Cathedral and forms the south-eastern part of central Durham. The name Elvet is recorded as Aelfetee in circa 800 AD and in the 12th century as Aeluete and Eluete . It is thought to be Old English in origin, containing the element elfitu ("a swan") + either ēa ("a river") or ēg ("an island"), giving
162-537: A furzebush in the flames, but if for a short space you may abide the heat of it, then there is a chance that it may be cooler ... If the Welsh be like the furze fire, then, pardieu! the Scotch are the peat, for they will smolder and you will never come to the end of them." In many parts of Britain, especially Devon and Cornwall , where it is particularly prevalent on the moors , the expression "kissing's out of fashion when
243-480: A group of monks from Lindisfarne chose the strategic high peninsula as a place to settle with the body of Saint Cuthbert , that had previously lain in Chester-le-Street , founding a church there. Local legend states that the city was founded in A.D. 995 by divine intervention. The 12th-century chronicler Symeon of Durham recounts that after wandering in the north, Saint Cuthbert's bier miraculously came to
324-421: A halt at the hill of Warden Law and, despite the effort of the congregation, would not move. Aldhun , Bishop of Chester-le-Street and leader of the order, decreed a holy fast of three days, accompanied by prayers to the saint. During the fast, Saint Cuthbert appeared to a certain monk named Eadmer, with instructions that the coffin should be taken to Dun Holm. After Eadmer's revelation, Aldhun found that he
405-481: A height of approximately 30 cm (12 in), a habit characteristic of sandy lowland heathlands. Common gorse flowers a little in late autumn and through the winter, coming into flower most strongly in spring. Western gorse and dwarf furze flower in late summer (August–September in Ireland and Great Britain). Between the different species, some gorse is nearly always in flower, hence the old country saying: "When gorse
486-579: A mile west of the city on 17 October 1346 between the English and Scots and was a disastrous loss for the Scots. The city suffered from plague outbreaks in 1544, 1589 and 1598. Owing to the divine providence evidenced in the city's legendary founding, the Bishop of Durham has always enjoyed the formal title "Bishop by Divine Providence" as opposed to other bishops, who are "Bishop by Divine Permission". However, as
567-519: A narrow neck on the fourth. The surrounding land is hilly, except along the Wear's floodplain to the north and southeast. Durham was founded in 995 by Anglo-Saxon monks seeking a place safe from Viking raids to house the relics of St Cuthbert . The church the monks built lasted only a century, as it was replaced by the present Durham Cathedral after the Norman Conquest ; together with Durham Castle it
648-647: A national averages of 12.79 and 5.53 °C (55.0 and 42.0 °F) respectively. Durham has the second longest weather record in England, with continuous daily records since August 1843. The coldest temperature recorded was in February 1895, falling to −18.0 °C (−0.4 °F), and the hottest was in July 2022, reaching 36.9 °C (98.4 °F), beating the previous record from July 2019 by 4.0 °C (39.2 °F). The wettest day since homogeneous rainfall records began in 1876
729-565: A number of names throughout history. The original Nordic Dun Holm was changed to Duresme by the Normans and was known in Latin as Dunelm . The modern form Durham came into use later in the city's history. The north-eastern historian Robert Surtees chronicled the name changes in his History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham but states that it is an "impossibility" to tell when
810-497: A population of 7,100. The Industrial Revolution mostly passed the city by. However, the city was well known for carpet making and weaving. Although most of the mediaeval weavers who thrived in the city had left by the 19th century, the city was the home of Hugh MacKay Carpets’ factory, which produced the famous brands of axminster and tufted carpets until the factory went into administration in April 2005. Other important industries were
891-550: A separate civil parish , on 1 April 1916 the parish was abolished to form Durham. In 1911 the parish had a population of 3934. Elvet House, a former Crown building (c. 1951) in Hallgarth Street, is currently the base for Durham's Jobcentre Plus , Crown Prosecution Service , Driving Standards Agency and Tribunals Service . The County Court vacated its purpose-built 1960's annex to Elvet House in October 2008 to relocate alongside
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#1732848222646972-463: A system new to English university life of advance fees to cover accommodation and communal dining. The first Durham Miners' Gala was attended by 5,000 miners in 1871 in Wharton Park, and remains the largest socialist trade union event in the world. Early in the 20th century, coal became depleted, with a particularly important seam worked out in 1927, and in the following Great Depression Durham
1053-578: A tributary of the River Tyne near Gateshead , was proposed by John Smeaton . Nothing came of the plan, but the statue of Neptune in the Market Place was a constant reminder of Durham's maritime possibilities. The thought of ships docking at the Sands or Millburngate remained fresh in the minds of Durham merchants . In 1758, a new proposal hoped to make the Wear navigable from Durham to Sunderland by altering
1134-504: Is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . From the 1070s until 1836 the city was part of the County Palatine of Durham , a semi-independent jurisdiction ruled by the prince bishops of Durham which acted as a geopolitical buffer between the kingdoms of England and Scotland . In 1346, the Battle of Neville's Cross was fought half a mile west of the city, resulting in an English victory. In 1650,
1215-404: Is a cathedral city and civil parish in the county of Durham , England. It is the county town and contains the headquarters of Durham County Council , the unitary authority which governs the district of County Durham . The built-up area had a population of 50,510 at the 2021 Census. The city was built on a meander of the River Wear , which surrounds the centre on three sides and creates
1296-647: Is a street on a hill of the same name in the Elvet area, that name being derived from the whin (gorse) shrub that grows there in profusion. The street runs north–south from Durham Prison and the Durham City Cricket Grounds, on the banks of the River Wear , to the roundabout on the Stockton-on-Tees road near the Durham University science site. The lower site of Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
1377-411: Is also the largest species, reaching 2–3 m (7–10 ft) in height; this compares with typically 20–40 cm (8–16 in) heights for the western gorse ( Ulex gallii ). This latter species is characteristic of highly exposed Atlantic coastal heathland and montane habitats. In the eastern part of Great Britain, the dwarf furze ( Ulex minor ) replaces the western gorse. Ulex minor grows to
1458-410: Is at 36. The Masonic Hall was built in 1869. The architect was T C Ebdy. The Royal County Hotel is a grade II listed building. It has a staircase traditionally said to have been taken from Lochleven Castle . Number 32, which has been used as an Adult Education Centre, is a grade II listed building. Elvet Methodist Church was begun in 1902. Number 34 is a grade II listed building. It has been used as
1539-400: Is especially suited for cutlery. In spite of its durability, it is not used for construction because the plant is too small and its wood is unstable, being prone to warping. Gorse is useful for garden ornaments, because it is resistant to weather and rot. Gorse has been listed as one of the 38 plants that are used to prepare Bach flower remedies , a kind of alternative medicine . The furze
1620-514: Is high in protein and may be used as feed for livestock, particularly in winter, when other greenstuff is not available. Traditionally, it was used as fodder for horses and cattle, being made palatable either by bruising (crushing) with hand-held mallets, grinding it to a moss-like consistency with hand- or water-driven mills, or being finely chopped and mixed with straw chaff. Gorse is also eaten as forage by some livestock, such as feral ponies, which may eat little else in winter. Ponies may also eat
1701-542: Is lower than the national average of 1,162.70 millimetres (46 in). Equally there are only an average of 124.14 days where more than 1 millimetre (0.04 in) of rain falls compared with a national average of 159.08 days. The city sees an average of 1479.95 hours of sunshine per year, compared with a national average of 1402.61 hours. There is frost on 46.81 days compared with a national average of 53.36 days. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 13.20 and 5.71 °C (55.8 and 42.3 °F) compared with
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#17328482226461782-450: Is off Church Street. A fire ball is reported to have fallen there during a thunderstorm on 13 July 1884. Dunelm House , a grade II listed building, is located on New Elvet. Shire Hall , a grade II listed building , is located on Old Elvet. Ustinov College operates three student residences (houses 29, 34 and 38) on Old Elvet; The Swan is unnumbered but located immediately beside 38. The local Masonic Lodge (Universities Lodge 2352)
1863-401: Is out of blossom, kissing's out of fashion". Gorse flowers have a distinctive coconut-like scent, experienced very strongly by some individuals but only weakly by others. The genus comprises the following species: The number of species is likely higher, as many subspecies are not closely related to one another or have large differences in ploidy . The status of the following species
1944-490: Is sometimes found on very rocky soils, where many species cannot thrive. Moreover, it is widely used for land reclamation (e.g. mine tailings), where its nitrogen-fixing capacity helps other plants establish better. Gorse is a valuable plant for wildlife, providing dense, thorny cover that's ideal for protecting bird nests. In Britain, France and Ireland, it is particularly noted for supporting Dartford warblers ( Sylvia undata ) and European stonechats ( Saxicola rubicola );
2025-654: Is the badge of the Sinclair and MacLennan clans of Scotland. The flower, known as chorima in the Galician language , is the national flower of Galicia in northwest Spain. The gorse is also the emblem of Brittany and is regaining popularity in Cornwall , particularly on St Piran's Day . The flammability of gorse rendered it a symbol for things that were quick to catch fire and burn out; for example, Doyle , in his book Sir Nigel , has Sir John Chandos say: "They flare up like
2106-406: Is undesirable for agricultural or ecological reasons, control is required either to remove gorse completely, or to limit its extent. Gorse-stands are often managed by regular burning or flailing, allowing them to regrow from stumps or seed. Denser areas of gorse may be bulldozed. Gorse flowers are edible and can be used in salads, teas and to make a non-grape-based fruit wine . As fodder, gorse
2187-626: Is unresolved: The following hybrids have been described: Gorse may grow as a fire-climax plant, well adapted to encourage and withstand fires, being highly flammable and having seed pods that are, to a large extent, opened by fire: thus allowing rapid regeneration after fire. The burnt stumps will readily sprout new growth from the roots. Where fire is excluded, gorse soon tends to be shaded out by taller-growing trees, unless other factors, such as exposure, also apply. Typical fire recurrence periods in gorse-stands are 5–20 years. Gorse thrives in poor growing areas and conditions, including drought; it
2268-671: The magistrates' court . The former priory farm included the former granary called the Tithe Barn, which is grade II* listed; and two former barns, other buildings and a wall which are grade II listed. The Tithe Barn has been dated between 1446 and 1449. Hallgarth House, which is number 77, is grade II listed. The Victoria , formerly the Victoria Hotel, an inn which is number 86, is grade II listed. Numbers 18, 21 to 32, 54 to 56, 58, 59, 67, 68, 69, 70, 73 and 75 are grade II listed. Oswald Court
2349-456: The palatine and Durham Castle . This was a strategic defensive decision by the city's founders and gives the cathedral a striking position. So much so that Symeon of Durham stated: To see Durham is to see the English Sion and by doing so one may save oneself a trip to Jerusalem . Sir Walter Scott was so inspired by the view of the cathedral from South Street that he wrote "Harold
2430-513: The 1960s during a redevelopment spearheaded by Durham City Council ; however, much of the original mediaeval street plan remains intact in the area close to the cathedral and market place. Most of the mediaeval buildings in the commercial area of the city have disappeared apart from the House of Correction and the Chapel of Saint Andrew, both under Elvet Bridge . Georgian buildings can still be found on
2511-513: The Bailey and through Old Elvet. Another local legend has it that Cromwell stayed in a room in the present Royal County Hotel on Old Elvet during the civil war. The room is reputed to be haunted by his ghost. Durham suffered greatly during the civil war (1642–1651) and Commonwealth (1649–1660). This was not due to direct assault by Cromwell or his allies, but to the abolition of the Church of England and
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2592-406: The Bailey leads south past Palace Green ; The Bailey is almost entirely owned and occupied by the university and the cathedral. Durham is a hilly city, claiming to be built upon the symbolic seven hills. Upon the most central and prominent position high above the Wear, the cathedral dominates the skyline. The steep riverbanks are densely wooded, adding to the picturesque beauty of the city. West of
2673-470: The Bailey . The medieval city was made up of the cathedral, castle and administrative buildings on the peninsula. The outlying areas were known as the townships and owned by the bishop, the most famous of these being Gilesgate (which still contains the mediaeval St Giles Church ), Claypath and Elvet . The outlying commercial section of the city, especially around the North Road area, saw much change in
2754-483: The Bailey and Old Elvet most of which make up the colleges of Durham University. The table below gives the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine figures taken between 1981 and 2010, and extreme temperatures back to 1850 for the weather station at Durham University Observatory : Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Durham has a temperate climate. At 675.65 millimetres (27 in), the average annual rainfall
2835-553: The Bailey, were created. The final 20th century collegiate addition came from the merger of the independent nineteenth-century colleges of the Venerable Bede and St Hild, which joined the university in 1979 as the College of St Hild and St Bede . The 1960s and 1970s also saw building on New Elvet. Dunelm House for the use of the students' union was built first, followed by Elvet Riverside, containing lecture theatres and staff offices. To
2916-684: The Bishop's temporal powers were abolished by the Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836 and returned to the Crown. The Representation of the People Act 2000 and is regarded as the second most senior bishop and fourth most senior clergyman in the Church of England . The Court of Claims of 1953 granted the traditional right of the bishop to accompany the sovereign at the coronation, reflecting his seniority. The first census, conducted in 1801, states that Durham City had
2997-538: The Dauntless", a poem about Saxons and Vikings set in County Durham and published on 30 January 1817. The following lines from the poem are carved into a stone tablet on Prebends Bridge: Grey towers of Durham Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles Half church of God, half castle 'gainst the Scot And long to roam those venerable aisles With records stored of deeds long since forgot. The old commercial section of
3078-484: The Graduate Society Offices. Elizabeth Milbanke and John Bacchus Dykes lived there at different times. The Dun Cow, a pub which is number 37, is a grade II listed building. Numbers 1, 5, 6, 14, 15, 15A, 17, 18, 19, 19½, 20, 25, 26, 26A, 27, 28, 30, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 55A are grade II listed buildings. Numbers are 47, 48 and 49 are grade II* listed buildings. Whinney Hill
3159-481: The Market Place towards Framwellgate Bridge and North Road, the other main shopping area of the city. From here, the city spreads out into the Framwelgate , Crossgate , Neville's Cross and viaduct districts, which are largely residential areas. Beyond the viaduct lie the outlying districts of Framwellgate Moor and Neville's Cross . Heading north from the Market Place leads to Claypath. The road curves back round to
3240-512: The Roman Catholic chaplaincy at St Cuthbert's Church . Elvet is home to Durham Prison and Durham Crown Court centre (Court Lane), County Court centre (New Elvet) and magistrates' court (Old Elvet). The Crown Court centre was originally built for the Durham Assizes and is a grade II* listed building . Elvet was formerly a township in the parish of St Oswald , in 1866 Elvet became
3321-577: The bishop's powers that the steward of Bishop Antony Bek commented in 1299 AD: "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". All this activity was administered from the castle and buildings surrounding the Palace Green. Many of
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3402-477: The bishop. A similar fate befell the cathedral, it being closed in 1650 and used to incarcerate 3,000 Scottish prisoners, who were marched south after the Battle of Dunbar . Graffiti left by them can still be seen today etched into the interior stone. At the Restoration in 1660, John Cosin (a former canon ) was appointed bishop (in office: 1660–1672) and set about a major restoration project. This included
3483-470: The cathedral was used to house Scottish prisoners after their defeat at the Battle of Dunbar . During the Industrial Revolution , the Durham coalfield was heavily exploited, with dozens of collieries operating around the city and in nearby villages. Although these coal pits have now closed, the annual Durham Miners' Gala continues and is a major event for the city and region. Historically, Durham
3564-584: The cathedral, and these also drew medieval pilgrims to the city. Durham's geographical position has always given it an important place in the defence of England against the Scots . The city played an important part in the defence of the north, and Durham Castle is the only Norman castle keep never to have suffered a breach. In 1314, the Bishopric of Durham paid the Scots a 'large sum of money' not to burn Durham. The Battle of Neville's Cross took place around half
3645-627: The city centre, another river, the River Browney , drains south to join the Wear to the south of the city. There are three old roads out of the Market Place: Saddler Street heads south-east, towards Elvet Bridge , the Bailey and Prebends Bridge . Elvet Bridge leads to the Elvet area of the city, Durham Prison and the south; Prebends Bridge is smaller and provides access from the Bailey to south Durham. Heading west, Silver Street leads out of
3726-501: The city centre. The city also has significant tourism and hospitality sectors. The name "Durham" comes from the Brythonic element dun , signifying a hill fort , and the Old Norse holme , which translates as island. The Lord Bishop of Durham uses a Latin variation of the city's name in his official signature, which is signed " N. Dunelm". Some attribute the city's name to
3807-508: The city encompasses the peninsula on three sides, following the River Wear. The peninsula was historically surrounded by the castle wall extending from the castle keep and broken by two gatehouses to the north and west of the enclosure. After extensive remodelling and "much beautification" by the Victorians the walls were removed with the exception of the gatehouse which is still standing on
3888-507: The city's modern name came into being. Durham is likely to be Gaer Weir in Armes Prydein , derived from Brittonic cajr meaning "an enclosed, defensible site, fort" from Latin castrum , “fort, military settlement” ( cf. Carlisle ; Welsh caer ) and the river-name Wear . Archeological evidence suggests a history of settlement in the area since roughly 2000 BC. The present city can clearly be traced back to AD 995, when
3969-415: The city, making an incised meander which encloses the centre on three sides to form Durham's peninsula . At the base of the peninsula is the Market Place, which still hosts regular markets; a permanent indoor market, Durham Indoor Market , is also situated just off the Market Place. The Market Place and surrounding streets are one of the main commercial and shopping areas of the city. From the Market Place,
4050-558: The closure of religious institutions pertaining to it. The city has always relied upon the Dean and Chapter and cathedral as an economic force. The castle suffered considerable damage and dilapidation during the Commonwealth due to the abolition of the office of bishop (whose residence it was). Cromwell confiscated the castle and sold it to the Lord Mayor of London shortly after taking it from
4131-511: The commissioning of the famous elaborate woodwork in the cathedral choir , the font cover and the Black Staircase in the castle. Bishop Cosin's successor Bishop Lord Nathaniel Crewe (in office: 1674–1721) carried out other renovations both to the city and to the cathedral. In the 18th century a plan to turn Durham into a seaport through the digging of a canal north to join the River Team ,
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#17328482226464212-466: The common gorse—originally introduced as an ornamental plant or hedge—has become an invasive species owing to its aggressive seed dispersal; it has proved very difficult to eradicate and detrimental to native habitats . Common gorse is also an invasive species in the montane grasslands of Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka. Gorse readily becomes a dominant plant in suitable conditions. Where this
4293-547: The common name of the whinchat ( Saxicola rubetra ) attests to its close association with gorse. The flowers are sometimes eaten by the caterpillars of the double-striped pug moth ( Gymnoscelis rufifasciata ), whilst those of the case-bearer moth Coleophora albicosta feed exclusively on gorse. The dry wood of dead gorse stems provides food for the caterpillars of the concealer moth Batia lambdella . In many areas of North America (notably California and Oregon), southern South America, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii,
4374-512: The east and beyond it lie Gilesgate , Gilesgate Moor and Dragonville. As part of the wider Tyne and Wear Green Belt area, Durham's portion extends beyond its urban area extents of Framwellgate Moor/ Pity Me , Elvet and Belmont, it being completely surrounded by green belt . This primarily helps to maintain separation from Chester-le-Street, and restrain expansion of the city and coalescence with nearby villages such as Bearpark , Great Lumley and Sherburn . Landscape features and facilities within
4455-555: The final resting place of Saint Cuthbert and Saint Bede the Venerable . The shrine of Saint Cuthbert, situated behind the High Altar of Durham Cathedral, was the most important religious site in England until the martyrdom of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury in 1170. Saint Cuthbert became famous for two reasons. Firstly, the miraculous healing powers he had displayed in life continued after his death, with many stories of those visiting
4536-520: The founding of Durham University thanks to the benevolence of Bishop William Van Mildert and the Chapter in 1832. Durham Castle became the first college ( University College, Durham ) and the bishop moved to Auckland Castle as his only residence in the county. Bishop Hatfield's Hall (later Hatfield College, Durham ) was added in 1846 specifically for the sons of poorer families, the Principal inaugurating
4617-403: The green belt area include Raintonpark Wood, Belmont Viaduct, Ramside Hall, Durham City Golf Course, the River Wear, Browney and Deerness basins, and Durham University Botanic Gardens. It was first drawn up in the 1990s. The historic city centre of Durham has changed little over 200 years. It is made up of the peninsula containing the cathedral, palace green, former administrative buildings for
4698-576: The king in 1649. Charles I came to Durham three times during his reign of 1625–1649. Firstly, he came in 1633 to the cathedral for a majestic service in which he was entertained by the Chapter and Bishop at great expense. He returned during preparations for the First Bishops' War (1639). His final visit to the city came towards the end of the civil war; he escaped from the city as Oliver Cromwell 's forces got closer. Local legend stated that he escaped down
4779-485: The king of England, he could govern as a virtually autonomous ruler, reaping the revenue from his territory, but also remaining mindful of his role of protecting England's northern frontier. The bishops had their own court system , including most notably the Court of Chancery of the County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge . The county also had its own attorney general , whose authority to bring an indictment for criminal matters
4860-526: The legend of the Dun Cow and the milkmaid who in legend guided the monks of Lindisfarne carrying the body of Saint Cuthbert to the site of the present city in 995 AD. Dun Cow Lane is said to be one of the first streets in Durham, being directly to the east of Durham Cathedral and taking its name from a depiction of the city's founding etched in masonry on the south side of the cathedral. The city has been known by
4941-505: The local legend of 'St Cuthbert's Mist'. This states that the Luftwaffe attempted to target Durham, but was thwarted when Cuthbert created a mist that covered both the castle and cathedral, sparing them from bombing. The exact events of the night are disputed by contemporary eyewitnesses. The event continues to be referenced within the city, including inspiring the artwork 'Fogscape #03238' at Durham Lumiere 2015. 'Durham Castle and Cathedral'
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#17328482226465022-616: The majority of species in Iberia . Gorse is closely related to the brooms , and like them, it has green stems, very small leaves and is adapted to dry growing conditions. However, it differs from the brooms in its extreme thorniness, the shoots being modified into branched thorns 1–4 centimetres ( 1 ⁄ 2 – 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches) long, which almost wholly replace the leaves as the plant's functioning photosynthetic organs. The leaves of young plants are trifoliate , but in mature plants, they are reduced to scales or small spines . All
5103-421: The manufacture of mustard and coal extraction. The Industrial Revolution also placed the city at the heart of the coalfields, the county's main industry until the 1970s. Practically every village around the city had a coal mine and, although these have since disappeared as part of the regional decline in heavy industry, the traditions, heritage and community spirit are still evident. The 19th century also saw
5184-531: The name a meaning of "swan stream" or "swan island". The Swan and Three Cygnets, a public house on Elvet Bridge, is a reminder of the historical name given to this part of the city. Other attempts at the etymology of Elvet include identification with the epithet Elfed in the name of Madog , a hero in Y Gododdin . Elvet grew up from two medieval settlements based around Old Elvet and St Oswald's Church and includes Church Street, Hallgarth Street, Whinney Hill and much of Durham University 's science site and
5265-450: The north-east of England lay so far from Westminster , the bishops of Durham enjoyed extraordinary powers such as the ability to hold their own parliament, raise their own armies, appoint their own sheriffs and Justices , administer their own laws, levy taxes and customs duties, create fairs and markets, issue charters , salvage shipwrecks, collect revenue from mines, administer the forests and mint their own coins. So far-reaching were
5346-432: The original buildings associated with these functions of the county palatine survive on the peninsula that constitutes the ancient city. From 1071 to 1836 the bishops of Durham ruled the county palatine of Durham . Although the term "prince bishop" has been used as a helpful tool in the understanding the functions of the bishops of Durham in this era, it is not a title they would have recognised. The last bishop to rule
5427-493: The palatinate, Bishop William Van Mildert , is credited with the foundation of Durham University in 1832. Henry VIII curtailed some of the bishop's powers and, in 1538, ordered the destruction of the shrine of Saint Cuthbert. A UNESCO site describes the role of the bishops in the "buffer state between England and Scotland": From 1075, the Bishop of Durham became a Prince-Bishop, with the right to raise an army, mint his own coins, and levy taxes. As long as he remained loyal to
5508-404: The river's course, but the increasing size of ships made this impractical. Moreover, Sunderland had grown as the north east's main port and centre for shipping. In 1787, the Durham infirmary was founded. The 18th century also saw the rise of the trade-union movement in the city. The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 gave governing power of the town to an elected body. All other aspects of
5589-475: The saint's shrine being cured of all manner of diseases. This led to him being known as the "wonder worker of England". Secondly, after the first translation of his relics in 698 AD, his body was found to be incorruptible . Apart from a brief translation back to Holy Island during the Norman Invasion the saint's relics have remained enshrined to the present day. Saint Bede's bones are also entombed in
5670-559: The southeast of the city centre sports facilities were built at Maiden Castle, adjacent to the Iron Age fort of the same name , and the Mountjoy site was developed, starting in 1924, eventually containing the university library, administrative buildings, and facilities for the Faculty of Science. Durham was not bombed during World War II , though one raid on the night of 30 May 1942 did give rise to
5751-471: The species have yellow flowers, generally showy, some with a very long flowering season. The greatest diversity of Ulex species is found in the Iberian Peninsula , and most species have narrow distribution ranges. The most widespread species is the common gorse ( Ulex europaeus ): it's the only species native to much of western Europe, where it grows in sunny sites and usually on dry, sandy soils. It
5832-443: The thinner stems of burnt gorse. Gorse-bushes are highly flammable; in many areas, bundles of gorse were used to fire traditional bread ovens. On the island of Guernsey , Channel Islands , many traditional farms had furze brakes . The prolific gorse and bracken would be cut, dried and stored to be used as fuel, with farmhouses having purpose-built furze ovens. Gorse wood has been used to make small objects; being non-toxic, it
5913-425: Was a sign from the saint, followed her. They settled at a wooded "hill-island" – a high wooded rock surrounded on three sides by the River Wear. There they erected a shelter for the relics, on the spot where Durham Cathedral would later stand. Symeon states that a modest wooden building erected there shortly thereafter was the first building in the city. Bishop Aldhun subsequently had a stone church built, which
5994-594: Was able to move the bier, but did not know where Dun Holm was. The legend of the Dun Cow, which is first documented in The Rites of Durham , an anonymous account about Durham Cathedral, published in 1593, builds on Symeon's account. According to this legend, by chance later that day, the monks came across a milkmaid at Mount Joy (southeast of present-day Durham). She stated that she was seeking her lost dun cow , which she had last seen at Dun Holm. The monks, realising that this
6075-457: Was also known for the manufacture of hosiery, carpets, and mustard. The city is the home of Durham University , which was founded in 1832 and therefore has a claim to be the third-oldest university in England . The university is a significant employer in the region, alongside the local council and national government at the land registry and passport office. The University Hospital of North Durham and HM Prison Durham are also located close to
6156-560: Was among those towns that suffered exceptionally severe hardship. However, the university expanded greatly. St John's College and St Cuthbert's Society were founded on the Bailey , completing the series of colleges in that area of the city. From the early 1950s to early 1970s, the university expanded to the south of the city centre. Trevelyan , Van Mildert , Collingwood , and Grey colleges were established, and new buildings for St Aidan's and St Mary's colleges for women, formerly housed on
6237-515: Was dedicated in September 998. This no longer remains, having been supplanted by the Norman structure. The legend is interpreted by a Victorian relief stone carving on the north face of the cathedral and, more recently, by the bronze sculpture 'Durham Cow' (1997, Andrew Burton ), which reclines by the River Wear in view of the cathedral. During the medieval period the city gained spiritual prominence as
6318-482: Was in September 1976, with 87.8 millimetres (3.46 in) falling in 24 hours. Whin 11–58; see text Genista-spartium Duhamel (1755) Ulex (commonly known as gorse , furze , or whin ) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The genus comprises about 20 species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae . The species are native to parts of western Europe and northwest Africa , with
6399-438: Was located on it until September 2009 when the school's sites merged. Durham's third passenger railway station, Durham Elvet, opened in 1893 at the north end of Whinney Hill, closing in 1954. Its site is now occupied by Durham Magistrates' Court and the university's Parson's Field buildings. Durham, England Durham ( / ˈ d ʌr əm / DURR -əm , locally / ˈ d ɜːr əm / listen )
6480-463: Was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. Among the reasons given for the decision were 'Durham Cathedral [being] the largest and most perfect monument of "Norman" style architecture in England', and the cathedral's vaulting being an early and experimental model of the gothic style . Other important UNESCO sites near Durham include Auckland Castle , North of England Lead Mining Museum and Beamish Museum . The River Wear flows north through
6561-579: Was tested by central government in the case of R v Mary Ann Cotton (1873). Certain courts and judicial posts for the county were abolished by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873 . Section 2 of the Durham (County Palatine) Act 1836 and section 41 of the Courts Act 1971 abolished others. The city remained loyal to King Charles I in the English Civil War – from 1642 to the execution of
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