Durham Castle facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Durham Castle - view from within the Castle courtyard
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| Location | Durham, England, United Kingdom |
| Part of | Durham Castle and Cathedral |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv), (vi) |
| Inscription | 1986 (10th Session) |
| Extensions | 2008 |
| Area | 8.79 ha (0.0339 sq mi) |
Durham Castle is an old Norman castle located in the city of Durham, England. Since 1837, it has been used by University College, Durham. Before that, it was where the Bishops of Durham lived.
In 1986, Durham Castle was named a cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO, along with Durham Cathedral. You can visit the castle, but only on guided tours. This is because it's still a working building and home to over 100 students. The castle sits high on a hill above the River Wear, right across from Durham Cathedral.
Contents
History of Durham Castle
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Building the Castle
The construction of Durham Castle started in 1072. This was just six years after the Norman conquest of England. William the Conqueror ordered it to be built. The castle was designed as a motte and bailey. This was a popular style for Norman castles. Stone for the castle was cut from nearby cliffs. Then, it was moved up using special lifting machines.
The Prince-Bishops
The King appointed the bishop of Durham, Bishop Walcher at the time, to act as his representative. The castle became the bishop's main home and office. From 1075, the Bishop of Durham gained special powers. They became known as "Prince-Bishops." They could even raise their own army, make their own money, and collect taxes!
As long as they stayed loyal to the King of England, they could rule their area almost like independent leaders. They collected money from their land. But they also had an important job: protecting England's northern border. This made Durham very special in England.
Why a Castle Here?
Durham Castle was very important for defense. It helped protect the border with Scotland. It also helped control local English rebellions. These rebellions were common right after the Norman Conquest. William the Conqueror even led a harsh campaign called the "Harrying of the North" in 1069.
The castle was built to keep the bishop and his people safe. For example, in 1069, the first Earl of Northumberland, Robert de Comines, was killed with his group. This showed how dangerous the area was.
In May 1080, rebels attacked the castle for four days. Bishop Walcher was killed during this attack. Later, in 1177, King Henry II of England took control of the castle. This happened after he had a disagreement with the bishop at that time, Hugh de Puiset.
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Changes Over Time
In the 1100s, Bishop Pudsey (Hugh de Puiset) added the Norman archway. He also built the Galilee part of the cathedral. Bishop Thomas Hatfield made more big changes in the 1300s. He rebuilt the castle's main tower, called the keep. He also made the mound it sat on larger.
The castle has a very large room called the Great Hall. It was first built by Bishop Antony Bek in the early 1300s. Bishop Hatfield later added a wooden gallery for musicians. Other bishops changed the Hall's size over the years. Today, the Hall is about 14 meters (46 feet) high and over 30 meters (98 feet) long.
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University College
The castle was the bishop's palace until 1832. After that, Auckland Castle became the main home for the Bishops of Durham. The current bishop still has offices there.
Later, Bishop William Van Mildert gave Durham Castle to the University of Durham. It then became University College. The college moved into the castle in 1837. This was after the next Bishop, Edward Maltby, finished making repairs to the building.
Castle Chapels
Norman Chapel
The Norman Chapel is the oldest part of the castle you can visit. It was built around 1078. Its style looks like Anglian architecture. This might be because Anglian workers were forced to build it. In the 1400s, its windows were mostly blocked up when the keep was made bigger. So, it wasn't used for a long time.
In 1841, it became a hallway to reach the keep. During World War II, it was used as a command center by the Royal Air Force. Its original purpose was then rediscovered. The chapel was made sacred again after the war. It is still used for weekly services by the college students.
Tunstall's Chapel
Tunstall's Chapel is named after Cuthbert Tunstall. It was built in the 1500s and is also used for worship by the college. Bishop Cosin changed it in the 1600s.
World Heritage Site
Durham Castle and Durham Cathedral are both part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are very close to each other on a large open space called Palace Green.
UNESCO highlights important features of the castle area. The castle grounds also have other buildings from the Durham Palatinate period. These show the Prince-Bishops' duties and special rights. Examples include the Bishop's Court (now a library), old homes for the poor, and schools. Palace Green was once used for grand parades and gatherings by the Prince-Bishops. Today, it's still a place for public events.
See also
In Spanish: Castillo de Durham para niños
