Durham Cathedral in the UK
Rating: 9,2/10 (7493 votes)  Durham Cathedral (the full name is Durham Cathedral of Christ, Virgin Mary and St. Cuthbert) is famous for being the first of the historical and architectural monuments in the UK to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is built near the very border of England and Scotland, on the River Wear, a cathedral, made in the Norman (Romanesque) architectural style. However, some elements of the cathedral make it possible to attribute it to the"Early English" and"perpendicular" Gothic.
The interior of the cathedral leaves an indelible impression of power and steadfastness. The low vault is supported by huge pillars, each 7 meters in girth. The building is 124 meters long.
On the site where today Durham Cathedral is preserved, two churches were originally built by fugitive monks from Lindisfarne who lived here, of which no traces remain. The presently existing cathedral was founded in the settlement of Durham in 1093 at the initiative of Bishop William de Saint-Calais.
Initially, its functions were not only decoration, but also defense, this is clearly indicated by the location on the hard-to-reach cliff top and the presence of powerful impressive walls. The bishop did not manage to finish building the cathedral; his successor was already doing this.
Such famous local shrines as the relics of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and Oswald of Northumbria were transferred to the cathedral immediately after the consecration. Already in the XII century. the territory of the temple was somewhat expanded, to it was added the chapel of the Virgin Mary in the Gothic style with the relics of the chronicler Bede the Venerable and Cardinal Thomas Langley kept in it. By the 13th century, the eastern end of the church was converted into the Chapel of the Nine Altars.
At a time when the Benedictine churches were actively destroyed by the forces of the English Reformation, Durham Cathedral was dissolved, and not a trace remained of the magnificent tombs. The cathedral at one time even served as a prison for the Scots captured by Oliver Cromwell, who are buried in a mass grave right there.
In the 18th century, the cathedral was subjected to restoration, which greatly changed its appearance, for example, the original stone facing was lost.We also recommend reading St Michael's Hill in Great Britain Topic: Durham Cathedral in the UK. |
