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875 c.e.

In 875 monks fleeing from viking raiders traveled South from Lindisfarne Island off the coast of Northumberland with the remains of Saint Cuthbert who had been The Bishop of Lindisfarne (Holy Island) from 685 to 687. Finally in 995 the community of monks established themselves on a rocky peninsula above the River Wear in what is now the city of Durham. Increasingly more substantial structures were built over a 23 year period to house the relics of the Saint. The site became a place of pigrimage due to the growing cult of Saint Cuthbert.

1093 - 1290 c.e.

The present cathedral - The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham to give it its proper name was designed by the first Prince Bishop, William de St. Calais. Construction began in 1093 at the Eastern end of the rocky penisular above the river Weir. The stone being quarried from the cliffs around the peninsula. The Choir was completed by 1096. The walls of the Nave were completed by 1128, the High Vault by 1135. The Chapter House was built between 1133 and 1140. between 1175 - 1189 the Galilee Chapel was built. This was the only place women were allowed to worship in the Cathedral during monastic times.

The huge carved Norman pillars are 6.6 metres round and 6.6 metres high, making their circumference the same as their height. They are there to support the stone vaulted ceiling. It is believed that the world's first structural pointed arch was created here. The pointed arch enables the vaulted ceiling to span this large space.

In 1228 the architect Richard Farnham designed The Chapel of Nine Alters to accommodate the crowds of medieval pilgrims visiting the Shrine of St Cuthbert. Construction commenced in 1242 and was completed in 1290. Early English Gothic architecture is the style here as is also seen at Lincoln Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral and Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.

The roof of the cathedral was replaced by a vault in 1250 the towers date from this period.

The Cloister was started at about the same time as the Norman Cathedral and completed in the late 12th century. It was remodelled to its present form in the early 15th century. The stonework tracery was remodelled again between 1764 - 1769.

c.1300 - 1490 c.e.

At the High Alter is the 14th century stone screen designed by master mason Henry Yvelli and carved by King Edward III's masons using stone from Normandy.

The Cathedra or bishops throne at Durham was built by Bishop Thomas Hatfield (1345 - 1381) His tomb stands below it. The throne is used when a priest is made a bishop.

At the top of the nave lies the black and white marble pavement. Above that stands the stone vault of the central tower which was rebuilt 1465 - 1490 by Master Masons Thomas Barton and John Bell after it was destroyed by lightning. Above that is the bell-ringer’s chamber and then the belfry with its ten bells.