Durham's greatest claim to fame in terms of architectural innovation is the stone vaulted ceiling of the Cathedral Nave, the first in the world of its type at such a large scale. It was to have a major impact on centuries of cathedral architecture.

Durham's greatest claim to fame in terms of architectural innovation is the stone vaulted ceiling of the Cathedral Nave, the first in the world of its type at such a large scale. It was to have a major impact on centuries of cathedral architecture.

© Durham Cathedral and Jarrold Printing

Architectural Innovation:The Cathedral's Vaulted Ceiling

The Castle's Norman Chapel (above left), dating to around 1072, is Durham's oldest surviving building. It pre-dates the monumental vaulted Cathedral Nave (above right), renowned as a break-through in architectural technology, by around 20 years.

© Right-hand image: Durham Cathedral and Jarrold

Durham Cathedral and Castle were inscribed on the World Heritage List because of:

  • The site’s exceptional architecture demonstrating architectural innovation
  • The visual drama of the Cathedral and Castle on the peninsula and the associations of the site with notions of romantic beauty
  • The site's role as a political statement as one of Britain's most powerful symbols of the Norman Conquest
  • The physical expression of the spiritual and secular powers of the medieval Prince-Bishops that the defended complex provides
  • The relics and material culture of the three saints (Cuthbert, Bede and Oswald) buried at the site, and the cultural and religious traditions and historical memories associated with them
  • The importance of the site's archaeological remains, which are directly related to its history and use over time
  • The continuity of use and ownership of the site as a place of religious worship, learning and residence over the past 1000 years

Meeting the Criteria

The Durham site meets three of UNESCO’s ten criteria for eligibility for World Heritage Status:

Criterion (iv):  

“To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history,”

"Durham Cathedral is the largest and most perfect monument of ‘Norman’ style architecture in England. The small castral (castle) chapel for its part marks a turning point in the evolution of 11th century Romanesque sculpture."

Criterion (ii):

“To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design,"

"Though some wrongly considered Durham Cathedral to be the first ‘Gothic’ monument (the relationship between it and the churches built in the Île-de-France region in the 12th century is not obvious), this building, owing to the innovative audacity of its vaulting, constitutes, as do Spire [Speyer] and Cluny, a type of experimental model which was far ahead of its time."

Criterion (vi):

“To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)” 

"Around the relics of Cuthbert and Bede, Durham crystallized the memory of the evangelising of Northumbria and of primitive Benedictine monastic life."

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