Durham

Today is Saturday

We had a very late start and hit the town after breakfast at the crack of noon.

 

We went into the market square and bumped into Tammy's Mum and Geoff, they were doing some ice cream shopping. 



We had a look around the market and then we headed up the hill to the Cathedral. It is a very impressive structure. It was the first Cathedral built with a roof entirely of stone.


 


Tammy has been looking for a brass door knocker since we arrived, because our luggage isn't heavy enough, this one she really liked. We did buy a replica of it in the gift shop that is a little smaller. This was the 'Sanctuary knocker' and was used by anyone who had committed a serious offence, they could gain gain sanctuary in the Cathedral for 37 days during which time the fugitives must choose between accepting the punishment for their crime or were guaranteed safe passage to another country. A very appropriate door knocker for our house.
It was abolished by James I in 1624.... Now Tammy has one.


The Cathedral is famous for being the final resting place of St Cuthbert. He is the Patron Saint of Northern England. 
We have encountered him along our travels. He was Bishop at Holy Island near where we saw the Puffins in the Farne Islands. Inner Farne Island  is where Cuthbert spent his last two years, his stone tower is still on the island and we cruised past it for a look.
Fleeing a Danish Invasion in 995 the monks carried Cuthbert across England and finally reburied him in Durham, where the Cathedral was built around his tomb. The Tomb was latter destroyed by Henry VIII's Dissolution of monastries. (We have seen much of the damage caused by this on our travels) That was between 1536 and 1541. 
That is rather a condensed version, it is a fascinating story.
There is a stature in Durham that represents the monks carrying Cuthberts Coffin, it is called 'the journey'.

The Castle was closed for a private function, disappointingly.



 







On our way back down the narrow cobble stoned road from the Cathedral we had to wait for the Harley Davidson Clan to pass by, there must have been two hundred bikes and the ages of the riders wasn't far from that either.

Durham is such a lovely city, it's one of the nicest we have visited.


We went back to our room for a rest. 

 We wandered back into the city for tea at an Italian restaurant and an informal catch up with the Perc and Laura and  others from Tasmania, there were about 25 there.

Back to the room to pack as we have another early start tomorrow.