Durham City Timeline
Above right Durham Cathedal courtesy of Freefoto.co
For Durham City history also try my Durham Memories , a feature I write for The Northern Echo
VIKINGS RAID ISLAND
On the 8th June in the year 793 A.D Lindisfarne
In an unprecedented attack which has shocked the whole of Europe, an army of Vikings from Norway raided Lindisfarne today. Monks fled in fear and many were slaughtered, Bishop Higbald has sought refuge on the mainland. The Vikings are attracted by the huge wealth of the Lindisfarne monastery which is a great centre of pilgrimage. Pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of St Cuthbert have bestowed many gifts to the monastery making it a source of rich picking for the Vikings.
SLAUGHTER
793 8th June Lindisfarne
An Anglo-Saxon Chronicler has made a written record of the terrible Viking raid on Lindisfarne. His account is as follows; '793. In this year terrible portents appeared over Northumbria,which sorely affrighted the inhabitants: there were exceptional flashes of lightning, and fiery dragons were seen flying through the air. A great famine followed hard upon these signs; and a little later in that same year, on the 8th June, the harrying of the heathen miserably destroyed God's church by rapine and slaughter.
DANES GRANT CHESTER LE STREET TO CUTHBERT FOLK
Guthred the Dane, the new Danish King of York has granted an area of land between the Rivers Tyne and Tees to the community of St Cuthbert, who have recently fled from the island of Lindisfarne, after continuous Viking raids. The grant of this land signifies the beginning of what will later become County Durham. The Community of St Cuthbert has settled within this territory at Chester le Street (Conecaster) St Cuthberts body was interred in a new church here and Eardwulf the former Bishop of Lindisfarne has become the first Bishop of Chester le Street.
ERIC BLOODAXE VISITS CHESTER LE STREET
952 Chester le Street
Eric Bloodaxe, the Viking King of York has visited the shrine of St Cuthbert at Chester le Street. His action of pilgrimage has become something of a tradition among powerful kings. In previous years visitors to St Cuthbert's shrine at Chester le Street have included Kings Athelstan, Edmund and Eadred.
ALDHUN NEW BISHOP
990 Chester le Street
Aldhun has become the Bishop of Chester le Street. He will be the last person to hold this post.
CITY OF DURHAM FOUNDED BY MONKS
995 September
After a short stay at Ripon the monks of St Cuthbert's community who recently fled from Chester le Street with the body of St Cuthbert have returned north to settle at a naturally defended site called Dunholm (Durham). The site is almost like a wooded island, formed by the horse-shoe shaped gorge of the River Wear.
EARLY MINSTER BUILT
995
A minster called the `White Church' has been constructed of wood for St Cuthbert's remains at Durham. Uhtred Eadulfson of Bamburgh has employed labour from the River Coquet in Northumberland to the River Tees to fortify the site and Aldhun, who was formerly the Bishop of Chester le Street has become the first Bishop of Durham.
STONE MINSTER BUILT
999
A new minster called the White Church, a small Anglo Saxon cathedral of stone has been constructed at Durham for the shrine of St Cuthbert. It replaces an earlier `White Church' built in 995.
DARLINGTON GIVEN TO BISHOP OF DURHAM
1003 York
Darlington has been given to the Bishop of Durham by Styr the son of Ulphus at a ceremony in York. Archbishop Wulfstan and King Athelred were present.Darlington may have been part of the territory seized by the Irish-Norse king Ragnald in 918.
SCOTS MASSACRED
1006
The Scots under the leadership of King Malcolm were heavily defeated by North Easterners during an attack on Durham City. King Malcolm was attempting to seize the North East, which a succession of Scottish kings have claimed as their own. Heads of the best looking Scottish soldiers were displayed around the city walls following the battle and some Durham women were presented with the generous gift of a cow for washing the heads and combing their hair. The men who defeated the Scots were led by Uhtred son of the elderly Earl of Bamburgh. Uhtred is also the son in law of the Bishop of Durham.
BISHOP DIES
1016
Aldhun the first Bishop of Durham has died. He is said to have been heartbroken by the news of the defeat of the Northumbrians at the Battle of Carham on Tweed and the loss of his north Northumbrian lands.
BEDE BONES PINCHED
1022 Jarrow
The relics of the Venerable Bede have been brought to Durham from Jarrow by Aelfred the Durham sacrist and relic collector. Aelfred is a notorious collector of saint's relics which he 'acquires' from ruined monasteries in the north.
KING VISITS DURHAM
1027
Following his recent pilgrimage to Rome, King Canute has made a visit to Durham, where he has walked bare foot from Garmondsway, six miles south of the city to visit the shrine of St Cuthbert. Canute has bestowed certain lands (in County Durham) to the community of St Cuthbert at Durham. The lands may be territories seized by the Norse king Ragnald in 918.
SCOTS REPELLED
1038
King Duncan of Scotland has besieged Durham City but the attack has been repelled. Duncan was heavily defeated and has fled to Scotland. The attack on Durham is linked with the Scottish desire to make North Eastern England a part of Scotland.
LAST SAXON BISHOP
1056
Aegelwine has become the Bishop of Durham following the resignation of Bishop Athelric. Aegelwine will be the last Anglo-Saxon to hold the Durham bishopric post.
BATTLE OF HASTINGS
1066 14th October Sussex
William of Normandy has defeated the Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harold Godwinson in battle at Hastings today. Harold, who recently defeated the Norwegian King Harald Hardrad in battle at York, was killed, reputedly by an arrow in the eye. William known as 'the Conqueror' will become the new King of England.
NORMANS SEIZE CITY
1069 30th January
Robert de Commines the newly appointed Norman Earl of Northumbria and his Norman army of seven hundred men have seized control of the City of Durham. Comine's men have distributed themselves throughout the streets of the city and many Durham folk have been brutally murdered trying to resist the Norman take over. Comines is confident he can take control of Durham despite strong warnings from Aegelwine, the Bishop of Durham who has predicted his defeat.
NORMANS MASSACRED IN DURHAM'S NARROW STREETS
1069 31st January
Early this morning the seven hundred strong army of Norman soldiers who seized the city of Durham yesterday were set upon by the Durham people aided by a large Northern army who broke open all the gates of Durham and stormed through the narrow streets of the city. Bodies of Norman soldiers were left strewn throughout the city streets while some Normans, including the leader Robert Comines fled for safety in the bishop's palace which was promptly set alight by the angry mob. For a time the severe blaze posed a great threat to the western tower of Durham's stone minster church but local people fell to their knees in prayer and miraculously the wind changed direction and diverted the flames away from the minster's tower.
EARL DIES IN BLAZING PALACE
1069 31st January
Robert Comine, the Earl of Northumbria and other Norman soldiers who took refuge in the bishop's palace during todays siege at Durham were burnt to death this morning as an angry mob of North Easterners set alight to the building protesting against the Norman occupation of their sacred city. As the siege drew to a close the snow covered streets of the city were filled with the carcasses of dead soldiers. All but two of the Norman occupants lost their lives in the massacre. These two lucky Norman soldiers escaped and will no doubt spend many years recalling the horrific events .
NEWS OF MASSACRE REACHES CLAIMANT
1069 1st February Scotland
Edgar the Aethling of Wessex, the only remaining Anglo-Saxon claimant to the English throne has received news of the massacre of the Normans at Durham during his exile in Scotland. Edgar will be encouraged to challenge the Norman invaders.
MIRACLE FORCES RETREAT
1069 September Northallerton North Yorkshire
Norman soldiers from York have retreated at Northallerton during their march toward Durham which they intended to attack following the recent massacre of Norman soldiers in the city. The Durham folk claim that the Normans have been struck with fear by a sudden fog caused by the intervention of St Cuthbert who is said to have miraculous powers in the land north of Northallerton and the River Tees. The true reason for the retreat is more likely to be an invasion by a huge army of Danes who are sailing into Yorkshire by the Humber estuary. The Normans will have to deal with the invasion as priority.
MONKS TAKE REFUGE ON LINDISFARNE
1069 December Holy Island
The monkish Community of St Cuthbert have fled from Durham to escape the ravages of the Norman army. They have taken with them the body of their saint Cuthbert and will take temporary refuge on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The Durham monks were surprised by the receding tide which allowed them landward access to the island and proclaimed it a miracle of St Cuthbert. They were unaware that this is a regular natural occurrence.
BISHOP PLUNDERS DURHAM MINSTER
1069 December
The Community of St Cuthbert have returned to Durham from Lindisfarne with their saint's body after the recent attack by the Normans on the city. The environs of Durham have been severely destroyed by the Normans but perhaps the worst shock was to find that Aegelwine the Bishop of Durham had fled south and robbed the Durham minster of some of its richest treaures.
CASTLE BUILT
1072 August
William the Conqueror has ordered Earl Waltheof of Northumbria to build a castle at Durham City as an important defensive stronghold against the Scots. The king has appointed one of his own men William Walcher of Lorraine as the first non-Saxon Bishop of Durham.
WALCHER BECOMES EARL-BISHOP
1075
Following the execution of Waltheof, the Earl of Northumbria who had plotted against the king, William Walcher the Norman Bishop of Durham has been given the extensive political powers formerly held by the Earl and has become a kind of `Earl-Bishop' or Prince Bishop of Durham with both political and ecclesisatical powers.
LUMLEY MURDERED BY BISHOP'S MEN
1080 County Durham
Liulf of Lumley an important Northumbrian nobleman and the first member of the Lumley family has been murdered by two of the Prince Bishop of Durham's men called Leobwin and Gilbert. Liulf has been a close confident of the Bishop and this has aroused much jealously among the bishop's men. The two retainers murdered Liulf and most of his family as they slept in their homes. Walcher the Bishop of Durham who had not consented to the murder has agreed to meet with remaining members of Liulf's family in an attempt to make the peace.
BISHOP MURDERED AT GATESHEAD
1080 15th May Gateshead
William Walcher the Bishop of Durham was murdered at Gateshead yesterday by an angry mob of northerners protesting against the murder of Liulf of Lumley by the bishop's men. The Bishop had called for a meeting at Gateshead church but the angry mob led by one Eadulf Rus, drowned out the bishop's pleas for peace by chanting `Stout rede, good rede slay ye the bishop'. The bishop supported by around one hundred men took refuge in the church but the anger of the mob forced them to surrender the murderer Gilbert who was instructed to make peace. Gilbert was immediately killed before the mob set alight to the church. As the bishop tried to escape he was butchered to death. His body was found this morning in a terrible mutilated state by some monks from Jarrow, it will later be buried at Durham.
MOB ATTACKS DURHAM
1080 May
Following the recent murder of Bishop Walcher, an angry mob of northerners have been attacking the castle at Durham City which is a stronghold of the Normans in the north. The siege has been abandoned after four days of constant onslaught.
FRENCH BISHOP ATTACKS NORTH
1080 Summer Summer
William the Conqueror has responded to the recent murder of Walcher the Bishop of Durham by sending north an army under the leadership of his brother Odo the Bishop of Bayeux. The Bishop's army has destroyed much of the land north of the Tees and the bishop himself stolen some valuable items from the monastery at Durham. Several of the Gateshead murderers who killed William Walcher and other Norman soldiers have fled to Scotland where they have been warmly welcomed by King Malcolm.
NEW BISHOP
1081 January
William of St Calais also known as William of St Carileph has been appointed as Bishop of Durham.The new bishop was consecrated at Gloucester in the presence of William the Conqueror. Bishop William was previously abbot of the monastery of St Vincent in Normandy. Carileph has not inherited the political powers held by his predecessor William Walcher who was an Earl-Bishop of Durham. A Norman called Aubrey de Coucy has inherited some political powers in the north as the new Earl of Northumbria.
BISHOP REMOVES NON-CELIBATE MONKS
1083
Bishop William St Carileph has removed the non celibate secular monks from the monastery of Durham minster and replaced them with a celibate order of monks under the leadership of the new prior called Aldwin. The non celibate monks have been removed to new monastic sites at Darlington, Norton near Stockton and St Helens Auckland. The new monks at Durham have been brought in from Monkwearmouth and Jarrow.
BISHOP FLEES TO FRANCE
1088 14th November
William of St Carileph the Bishop of Durham and Robert de Mowbray the new Earl of Northumberland have supported the claims of Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror to the English throne. These two important northern figures join Odo the Bishop of Bayeux and many others on a long list accused of favouring Curthose as king. Bishop William has fled to Normandy after his castle at Durham was besieged by Ivo Tallebois and Erneis de Buron who are Norman supporters of King William. The bishopric of Durham has been left vacant.
PRIOR HAS SCOTTISH CONNECTIONS
1088
The new prior of Durham is Turgot a monk from Dunfermeline abbey. He has taken over the administration of the bihsopric of Durham following the recent departure of Bishop William of St Carileph who has fled to Normandy after his alleged involvement in a plot to remove King William Rufus. Turgot could be a very dangerous or a very useful appointment for King William as he has connections with the court of King Malcolm of Scotland. Turgot is also the confessor to Queen Margaret the Scottish queen.
BISHOP BUYS POLITICAL RIGHTS
1091 14th September
William of St Carileph has been restored to the bishopric of Durham at the end of his three year exile. The king has given the bishop similar political powers in the north to those bestowed on his predecessor Walcher although he is likely to be a shrewder politician than the murdered bishop. Many of the powers bestowed to Bishop Carileph of Durham by King William Rufus have been bought by the Bishop from Robert De Mowbray, the Earl of Northumberland. The Earl of Northumberland has held certain political rights in the the land between the Tyne and Tees which form part of the Earldom of Northumbria. These rights have been bought by Bishop William St Carileph with the encouragenment of King William Rufus. Only the very southern portion of County Durham called Sadberge remains the territory of the Earl.
POWERS OF THE PRINCE BISHOP
1091
The politcial powers of the Bishop of Durham are confined mainly to land between the Tyne and Tees with pockets of teritory further north in Northumberland. Carileph's politcial territory is called a Palatine and in his capacity as a virtual ruler over this land he can be described as a 'Prince Bishop'. As 'Prince Bishop' Carileph and his successors will have powers enabling them to hold their own parliament, raise their own armies, appoint their own sherriffs and justices, administer their own laws, levy taxes and customs duties, create fairs and markets, issue charters, salvage shipwrecks, collect revenue from mines, administer forests and mint their own coins.
NEW CATHEDRAL FOR DURHAM
1093 11th August
The construction of a Norman cathedral at Durham has been commenced by Bishop William of St Carileph who has demolished the older Saxon minster to make way for a magnificent new building. Bishop William is inspired by the new churches he has seen during his exile in Normandy and is aiming to build something of great magnificence. The first three stones of the building were laid by Bishop William St Carileph, King Malcolm of Scotland and Prior Tugot of Durham.
ACCUSED BISHOP DIES
1096 6th January Windsor
William of St Carileph, the Bishop of Durham who instigated the building of a new cathedral at Durham has died at Windsor where he has been summoned to meet the king on suspicion of involvement in an attempt to overthrow the monarch. He has not lived to see the completion of his cathedral at Durham which is still under construction.
CUNNING FLAMBARD IS NEW BISHOP
1099
Ranulf Flambard has become the new Bishop of Durham. He is a minister to King William Rufus and has greatly pleased the king as his chief adviser. Flambard had postponed appointments to bishoprics including Durham and enforced heavy feudal payments from barons. This earned much extra revenue for the king who has awarded Flambard with the bishopric of Durham, although there is some suggestion that Flambard may have paid a small fee for the purchase of the bishopric.
BISHOP IMPRISONED
1100 London
Ranulf Flambard the Bishop of Durham, a chief adviser to the late King William Rufus has been imprisoned in the Tower of London by Henry I following advice from council. Flambard has many enemies in the country who will be pleased to see him locked up.
BISHOP ESCAPES FROM TOWER OF LONDON
1101 February London
Ranulf Flambard the Bishop of Durham has escaped from the Tower of London by means of a rope smuggled in to him by some unknown person. Flambard has fled to France to seek refuge with his friend Robert Curthose, the Duke of Normandy.
BISHOP SUPPORTS INVASION OF ENGLAND
1101 July
Ranulf Flambard the Bishop of Durham has persuaded the king's brother, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy to invade England. King Henry has backed down from confrontation with Robert in Hampshire and has agreed to pay for the Duke's expedition and grant pardons to all the duke's allies. Ranulf Flambard has been restored to the Bishopric of Durham.
SAINT BURRIED IN CATHEDRAL
1104 September
St Cuthbert's body was finally laid to rest in Durham Cathedral this month. The body had been temporarily laid in a nearby chapel while the construction work on the great cathedral was undertaken. During the movement of the corpse, the body was inspected by ten monks who found the body to be whole and incorrupt with a fragrant smell. It is thought that the body was embalmed.
PRIOR BECOMES A SCOTTISH BISHOP
1107 June Fife Scotland
Turgot, the prior at Durham Cathedral monastery has become the new Bishop of St Andrews in Fife. Turgot was one of the men present at the laying of Durham Cathedral's first stones in 1093.
FLAMBARD BUILDS HOSPITAL
1112
St Giles Church and the hospital of Kepier have been founded in Durham City by Bishop Ranulf Flambard.
BISHOP GIVES FINCHALE TO SAINT
1115
St Godric has been granted land at Finchale near Durham City by Bishop Ranulf Flambard. Godric intends to establish a hermitage at this beautiful spot by the River Wear.
PRINCE BISHOP RAIDS SCOTLAND
1121 Scotland
Flambard the Prince Bishop of Durham has attacked Scotland with an army of his men using his newly fortified site of Norham on Tweed as a base.
CITY BRIDGE BUILT
1128
Framwellgate Bridge has been constructed linking the city by road with the north. The bridge built by the Prince Bishop Ranulf Flambard has excellent views of Durham Castle and the cathedral which is nearing completion.
FLAMBARD DIES
1128
Ranulf Flambard the Bishop of Durham has died after twenty nine years as bishop. The bishop who had made many enemies during his life had tried in vain to make up for the wrongs of his earlier life by restoring priveleges taken from the Durham monks.
CATHEDRAL COMPLETE
1132
Durham Cathedral has been completed. The cathedral has been built largely to the designs of Bishop William of St Carileph who died in 1096.
RUFUS IS NEW BISHOP
1133
The new Bishop of Durham is Geoffrey Rufus the king's chancellor who was consecrated as the new Bishop of Durham in York today by Thurstan, Archbishop of York. Bishop Rufus is the successor to Ranulf Flambard who died in 1128.
MINT ESTABLISHED
1135
The Bishop's mint has been establihed near to Durham Castle. Unique Durham coins will be produced here.
PEACE TREATY SIGNED IN DURHAM
1136 5th February
King Stephen of England and David King of Scotland have signed a treaty at Durham in an attempt to settle land disputes. David's son Henry has been granted the Earldom of Huntingdon but King Stephen will keep Northumberland which has been claimed by the Scots for many years.
USURPER SEIZES BISHOP'S CASTLE
1141
A usurper is claiming to be the Prince Bishop of Durham following the death of Bishop Geoffrey. William Cumin who has been a loyal if somewhat devious chaplain to the bishop has seized the bishop's castle with the support of several of the bishop's servants. Cumin is a usurper with no right to the bishop's throne, the only royal support he has for his claim is from King David of Scotland. Cumin has forged papal documents claiming that he is the new Bishop of Durham but the monks of Durham cathedral monastery have refused to accept him.
MONKS ELECT BISHOP
1143 York City
William St Barbara has become the official Bishop of Durham despite the claims of the usurper William Cumin. Some monks escaped to Rome to clarify whether or not Cumin had any right to the bishopric. The pope has instructed them that Cumin is not a bishop and ordered that the monks elect a new bishop within forty days. William of St Barbara, the Dean of York has been elected to the Prince Bishop's post. The new bishop has been consecrated at Winchester.
USURPER CAPTURED
1144 Kirk Merrington
1144 William Cumin the usurper bishop of Durham has been captured by Durham barons with the assistance of the Earl of Northumberland at Kirk Merrington.
PUDSEY IS BISHOP
1154 May
Hugh du Puiset also known as Hugh de Puteaco (known as Bishop Pudsey) has been elected the new Bishop of Durham by the Durham monks following the death of William of St Barbara last year. Pudsey who is only twenty five is a nephew of King Stephen and reputedly a great grandson of William the Conqueror. Pudsey, who has been treasurer of York and Archdeacon of Winchester will be thought by many to be too young for the job but the new bishop has visited the Pope in Rome to be consecrated before returning to Durham for his enthronement this month.
PUDSEY BUILDS ELVET BRIDGE
1160
Bishop Hugh Pudsey has built a stone bridge across the River Wear in Durham City, linking the city with the borough called Elvet
SAINT DIES AGED 105
1170 Finchale
St Godric of Finchale has died at the age of 105. Godric who was born somewhere in Norfolk in 1065 spent the early part of his life as a pedlar and sea pirate on the open seas until a pilgrimage to Compostella in Spain made him decide to become a hermit. For a time he settled at Carlisle where he established a hermitage before moving to Wolsingham in Weardale where he lived in a cave before finally settling at Finchale, persuading the Bishop of Durham Ranulf Flambard to allow him to build a hermitage.
BISHOP'S NEPHEW LANDS AT HARTLEPOOL
1171 Hartlepool
Count Hugh de Barr, the nephew of Hugh Pudsey, the Bishop of Durham has brought a fleet of ships into the natural harbour of Hartlepool to assist William King of Scotland in his invasion of England. It is highly likely that Bishop Pudsey has encouraged his nephew to assist in this way
REBEL FLEET RETURNS HOME
1174 July Hartlepool
The fleet of Count Hugh de Barr, the nephew of Pudsey the Bishop of Durham has returned to Flanders after hearing of the capture of William the King of Scotland at Alnwick.
LADY CHAPEL BUILT
1174
The Galilee Chapel has been built at Durham Cathedral by Bishop Hugh Pudsey for the use of ladies, who are not presently allowed to enter the building. As a lady chapel the Galilee is unusual in its situation at the western end of the cathedral, as Lady chapels are normally constructed at the eastern end of cathedral buildings. Strangely, attempts have been made at Durham to build a lady chapel at the eastern end of the Cathedral but the foundations kept collapsing. Some believe the miracle working St Cuthbert is raising an objection to the presence of women near his tomb at the eastern end of the building.
CITY CHARTER
1179
The Bishop of Durham, Hugh Pudsey has granted Durham a charter for a market. The charter is 'retrospective' and allows markets, fairs and other freedoms in the city of Durham. A market is thought to have existed in Durham since 1040.
POPE CONFIRMS CHARTER
1179
Durham's Charter has been confirmed by the Pope in a Papal Bull. (Beverley is the only other borough in England known to have received a papal bull confirming its charter).
HOUSES IN OLD ELVET
1180
A new borough called Elvet Haugh (Old Elvet) has been established by the Bishop of Durham on land belonging to the Durham Priory. The new borough consists of forty merchants' houses and is linked to the city by Elvet Bridge.
PUDSEY BUILDS HOSPITAL
1181
Sherburn Hospital has been contructed by Bishop Pudsey near Durham City
DURHAM DOMESDAY
1183
Hugh Pudsey, the Bishop of Durham has carried out a survey of all his territory in Durham and in parts of Northumberland. The survey known as the Boldon Buke is Durham's equivelant of the Domesday Book which was instigated by King William the Conqueror in 1086. Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland were not included in King William the Conqueror's famous survey.
DURHAM GETS POORE
1228
Richard le Poore has been appointed as the new Bishop of Durham
TOWER BUILT
1233 Durham Cathedral
The Central Tower has been built at Durham Cathedral. The tower is one of the last major additions to the Cathderal building along with the Chapel of the Nine altars which is now under construction.
TIGHTROPE WALKER FALLS TO DEATH
1237
A man employed by the Prior of Durham Thomas Melsonby to entertain the monks fell to his death while walking on a tightrope stretched between the central tower and a western tower of Durham Cathedral. King Henry III hearing of this prank, has informed the prior that he has now destroyed all his chances of becoming the next Bishop of Durham.
CHAPEL COMPLETE
1242
The Chapel of the Nine Altars has been completed at Durham Cathedral.
ARCHBISHOP KICKED OUT OF DURHAM
1283
The Archbishop of York has been kicked out of Durham by Durham monks angry at his attempts to inspect their wealthy monastery. The Archbishop was visting Durham before the appointment of the new Bishop in the city. The monks indignantly clipped the tail of the Archbishop's horse and chased him out of the city's market place by a narrow alley near St Nicholas Church.
BEK ORDERED TO EXCOMMUNICATE MONKS
1284
The Archbishop of York has ordered the newly appointed Bishop of Durham, Anthony Bek to excommunicate the Durham monks who humiliated the archbishop on his recent visit to Durham. Bek has refused the Archbishop's orders.
EXCOMMUNICATION OVERTHROWN BY KING
1284
The Archbishop of York has failed in an attempt to excommunicate Anthony Bek, the Bishop of Durham who has refused to take orders from the senior churchman. Bek claimed that as Prince Bishop he could only take orders from the king. The king naturally agreed and the excommuincation has been ovethrown.
CROOK HALL BUILT
1284
Peter Del Croke has built a manor house close to the banks of the River Wear at Durham
BISHOP JOINS BATTLE AGAINST SCOTS
1298 Falkirk
An English army have attacked Scotland and were victorious at the Battle of Falkirk. The English army has included the services of Anthony Bek, the Bishop of Durham
KING ENTERTAINED
1298 Kepier near Durham
King Edward I was entertained at Kepier Hospital near the banks of the River Wear in Durham.
BISHOP DEMANDS ACCESS TO PRIORY
1300 May
Anthony Bek, the Bishop of Durham has demanded an official visitation to the priory of Durham which lies adjacent to the cathedral. The prior Richard de Hoton has refused, so Bek has imprisoned the Durham monks in the priory.
BISHOP'S MEN ATTACK PRIOR
1300 18th June Shincliffe
King Edward has met with the monks of Durham and promised to settle their dispute with the Bishop of Durham. The prior of Durham was recently attacked at Shincliffe by retainers of the Bishop.
KELLAW BECOMES BISHOP
1311
Richard Kellaw of Kelloe near Durham has been appointed the new Bishop of Durham
ROBERT THE BRUCE ATTACKS DURHAM
1312
The Scots under Robert the Bruce have severely burned and plundered the outskirts of Durham in a raid which has taken them as far south as Hartlepool, a place closely associated with Robert's ancestors.
MURDER ON THE BRIDGE
1318
The Bishop of Durham's steward Richard Fitzmarmaduke has been murdered by his cousin Ralph Neville on Framwellgate Bridge.
WALLS RESTORED
1323
The historic city walls of Durham have undergone restoration this year. The walls have provided an invaluable defence against the raiding Scots.
QUEEN ASKED TO LEAVE CATHEDRAL
1333
King Edward III has stayed at Durham Cathedral before his March into Northumberland to fight against the Scots. Queen Philippa was aked to leave the cathedral and sleep in the castle to avoid upsetting St Cuthbert who is thought to have disliked women.
SCOTS RAID CITY
1342
Durham City has been severely raided by the Scots and many of the city's residents have been killed. The attack followed a failure by the Scots to penetrate the city walls of Newcastle which forced them to turn their attentions elsewhere.
BATTLE AT NEVILLES CROSS
1346 17th October
The Scots under David II attacked the priories at Hexham and Blanchland before making their way south to attack the City of Durham today. At first the main Scottish army assembled at Beau repaire (Bearpark) while foraging parties plundered the western hills. Eventually the main Scottish and English forces engaged in battle on the Red Hills near Nevilles Cross on the western outskirts of the city. The Scots are said to have outnumbered the English but they were heavily defeated. After the battle, the Scottish King David was discovered hiding under the arch of Aldin Grange Bridge on the River Browney not far from Neville's Cross. The king is to be imprisoned and held for ransom.
MONKS HAVE MINING INTERESTS
The monks of Durham are recorded as leasing a mine at Ferryhill and owning a coal mine at Rainton west of Durham.
BISHOPS THRONE BUILT AT DURHAM
1371
The Bishop of Durham's Throne or 'Cathedra' has been built at Durham Cathedral
NEVILLE SCREEN PLACED IN CATHEDRAL
1375
The beautiful Neville Screen has been erected in Durham Cathedral. Shipped from Caen in France the screen was brought to Durham in sections from Newcastle by cart.
NEW SCHOOL
1414
Durham School has been established in the city.
PLAGUED BY THE PLAGUE
1416
An outbreak of plague has hit the city of Durham. (plague will continue to break out in the city for five years.)
GATE BUILT
1417
Bishop Langley has built The Great North Gate, an important fortification situated between Saddler Street and.the North Bailey.
HOSTAGES EXCHANGED
1424 28th March
James King of Scotland, a prisoner in England has been given freedom. King James was exchanged for English hostages in the City of Durham. A peace treaty called the Treaty of Durham lasting for seven years has been signed by the King and has been witnessed by Langley Bishop of Durham, the Bishop of London, Lord Dacre, Lord Greystock, Richard Neville, and Sir Robert Umfraville. King James, after spending a month under the hospitality of the Bishop of Durham was escorted to the abbey of Melrose in Scotland where the treaty was confirmed
TOWER HIT BY LIGHTNING
1429
After a dreadful storm, a bolt of lightning hit the belfry tower of Durham cathderal today, causing a fire which continued to burn for several hours before twenty feet of the upper part of the belfry fell down. The tower will be rebuilt.
CLOISTERS BUILT
1438
The monastic cloister buildings have been erected at Durham Cathedral. Meanwhile the new bishop Robert Neville has erected an exchequer building on Palace Green.
KING MAKES PILGRIMAGE TO DURHAM
1448 26th September
King Henry IV has made a visit to the shrine of St Cuthbert in Durham Cathedral. He has stayed for three days before returning south.
CHAPEL BUILT AT GILESGATE
1451
The Chapel of St Mary Magdalene Durham has been built near Gilesgate in Durham City.
MONKS MINE BELOW DRAINAGE LEVEL
1486 Moorhouse near Rainton
The first record of coal mining beneath the level of free drainage in Durham is taking place at Moorhouse Close near Durham. The monks of Finchale have had to provide a new pump in order to mine in the area.
KING'S DAUGHTER STAYS AT DURHAM
1503 23rd July
Margaret Tudor, the eldest daughter of Henry VII who is due to marry the King of Scotland has stayed at Durham where she has been entertained by Bishop Fox in the Great Hall of the palace or castle.
HENRY DIsSOLVES THE MONASTERy
1540
Durham Cathedral Monastery has been dissolved along with many other northern monasteries by King Henry VIII.
FIRST PROTESTANT BISHOP AT DURHAM
1561
James Pilkington has become the first protestant Bishop of Durham. The new bishop has removed all superstitous books and statues of idolatry from the cathedral.
BISHOP'S CHARTER
1565 30th January
Bishop Pilkington has issued a charter of incorporation for the citizens of Durham and Framwelgate.
REBELS FAIL TO OVERTHROW QUEEN
1569 Brancepeth
The two most powerful families in northern England, the Nevilles of Durham and Percies of Northumberland have plotted to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I and reinstate Roman Catholocism in what has become known as 'The Rising of the North'. The rising which gained huge support throughout the region was plotted at Brancepeth and Raby Castle but has been a failure. Brancepeth and Raby have been confiscated from the Nevilles by the Crown. Sixty persons were executed at Durham for their part in the rising. Many other executions occured throughout the north in nearly every town and village from Wetherby to Newcastle.
APOSTLE KILLED BY OX
1583
Bernard Gilpin, known as the 'Apostle of the North' has been killed by an ox in Durham City aged 66. Gilpin, described as a 'tall and lean person with a hawk like nose' played a great part in spreading the word of God among the rough and troublesome border folk of Northumberland.
PLAGUE HITS DURHAM
1589
Plague has ravaged the north and forced many of the poorer residents of Durham City to move out to Elvet Moor, where an arrangement of cells have been constructed for their occupation. In the previous year 1,726 had been killed by plague in Newcastle.
PRIESTS EXECUTED
1590
Three Roman Catholic priests have been executed at Durham. They are among the first of many executed throughout the reign of Elizabeth I, who has forbid Roman Catholic Priests from practising in the country.
GYPSIES HANGED
1592
Five men have been hanged at Dryburn, Durham City, on suspicion that they might be gypsies. The parish register of St Nicholas has recorded their names as Arrrington, Fetherstone, Fenwick, Lancaster and Simson.
CATHOLICS EXECUTED
1594
John Speed, a layman has been executed at Durham for assisting Roman Catholic priests. John Bost a Roman Catholic priest has also been executed in the city. Similar executions have taken place at Gateshead and Darlington.
PLAGUE KILLS EIGHT HUNDRED IN CITY
1597
The plague has once again ravaged the north Newcastle, Darlington, Aycliffe, and Chester le Street have all been badly hit. By October 17, 340 people had died of plague at Darlington. In Durham City the death toll reached 844 on October 27th. The figures for each Durham City parish were as follows; Elvet 400 dead, St Nicholas (Market Place) 100, St Margaret's 200, St Giles (Gilesgate) 60, St Mary's, North Bailey 60 and 24 died in the jail. The Bishop of Durham Tobias Matthew has retired to his castle at Stockton as a place of refuge.
PLAGUE CONTINUES
1598
The plague ceased at Durham at the beginning of the year but broke out again in September.
FIRST MAYOR
1601
Durham City has received a charter of incorporation from the crown but Bishop Tobias Matthew has objected to this as an infringement of his rights and the charter has been quoshed. The bishop has instead granted a charter himself and has appointed Hugh Wright as the first mayor of Durham. Durham City will be administered by the Mayor, 12 alderman and 24 burgesses.
KING JAMES VISITS DURHAM
1603 13th April
James VI King of Scotland newly appointed as James I King of England has visited Durham during his long journey south to claim the Crown of England. King James has been entertained in the castle by the Bishop of Durham, who attended him with a hundred gentlemen.
PLAGUE IN GILESGATE
1604
The last recorded incidence of the plague in Durham broke out in St Giles parish, Gilesgate Durham this year.
SPENNYMOOR MUSTER
1615
An assembly of men between the age of 16 and 60 fit to bear arms in the county of Durham gathered at Spenny Moor near Whitworth. The total number of men was 8,320 of which 560 came from the city and subburbs of Durham.
MAYOR GREETS KING
1617 April
King James I has visited Durham during his long journey into Scotland. Entering by Elvet the King was greeted by a loyal speech from the mayor of Durham on horseback. The mayor, bearing the city mace rode before the king in a great procession to the cathedral.
MARKET CROSS ERECTED
1617
A market cross has been erected in Durham. Covered with lead, it consists of twelve stone pillars.
HORSE THIEF EXECUTED
1618 18th August
A horse thief by the name of Thomas Wright has been executed at Dryburn, Durham. He has been burried at St Oswald's Church, in Elvet.
MAN PUNISHED FOR CLANDESTINE MARRIAGE
1633 March
A man has had to make a public penitential confession in Durham and ordered to pay a £40 fine for a clandestine marriage performed by a Roman Catholic priest in a private house in Crossgate, Durham City.
DURHAM FOOL ENTERTAINS KING
1633 1st June
King Charles I stayed three days in Durham while on his way to Scotland. During his stay at Durham Castle, the King was attended by the Earls of Newcastle, Northumberland and Pembroke and amused by Dickie Pearson, the Bishop of Durham's fool. The Earl of Pembroke was very elaborately and fantastically dressed which prompted Dickie to ask in a very familiar manner 'I am the Bishop of Durham's fool, whose fool are you?'. The Bishop of Durham's cost for entertaining the king amounted to £1,500 per day.
STEEPLE FALLS INTO STREET
1637 27th August
The steeple of St Mary le Bow Church in the Bailey Durham collapsed into the street today, a large part of the western church was brought down but nobody was injured.
KING CHARLES VISIT
1639 April
King Charles I has visited Durham while on his way north to march against the Scottish Covenanters. He has been entertained by Morton, the Bishop of Durham during his stay. The king then proceeded to Berwick where he made temporary peace with the Scots deputies.
SCOTS SEIZE DURHAM
1640 30th August
An English army was heavily defeated by Scottish covenanters at the Battle of Newburn on Tyne on August 28. Newcastle has been fully occupied by the Scots who have also seized the City and Castle of Durham which had been a Royalist stronghold.
SCOTS LEAVE DURHAM
1641
The Scots have disbanded from their occupation of Durham and other parts of the north after receiving £60,000 from King Charles.
CROMWELL ABOLISHES BISHOP'S REVENUE
1646
Parliament has abolished the episcopy of Durham. The revenues of the see have been taken from the Bishop of Durham by Oliver Cromwell's House of Commons.
london LORD MAYOR BUYS DURHAM CASTLE
1649
Durham Castle, formerly the home of the now powerless Bishop of Durham has been bought by Thomas Andrews the Lord Mayor of London for £1267 10d. He has greatly defaced the property and made it virtually uninhabitable.
CROMWELL PROPOSES COLLEGE FOR DURHAM
1650 March
Oliver Cromwell has suggested that the siting of a college at Durham would be 'a matter of great concernment and importance which may conduce to the promoting of learning and piety in these rude and ignorant partes'
CROMWELL VISITS DURHAM
1650 14th July
Oliver Cromwell has visited the City of Durham today prior to the Battle of Dunbar. He has stayed in a house which is now part of the Royal County Hotel in Old Elvet.
FRAMWELGATE SOLD TO CORPORATION
1650 18th April
Framwelgate and the Borough of Durham, which formerly belonged to the Bishopric of Durham, have been sold to the Corporation of Durham for £200.
SCOTS PRISONERS WRECK CATHEDRAL
1650 September
Following the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar, over three thousand Scottish captives have been imprisoned in Durham Cathedral. Many fine tombs have been destroyed by the prisoners and ancient woodwork has been destroyed for firewood. Only an ornamented clock featuring the sacred Scottish thistle seems to have been spared.
WITCHCRAFT EXECUTIONS
1652 January
Two men by the name of Adamson and Powle have been executed in the City of Durham for witchcraft.
UNIVERSITY QUOSHED BY OXBRIDGE
1657 15th May
Oliver Cromwell has signed a writ of privy seal for the establishment of a University at Durham. The writ has been suppressed due to pressure from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge who have objected to the formation of a new university.
BISHOPRIC RESTORED
1660 2nd November
The restoration of King Charles II to the English throne has been heartily celebrated in Durham City. The County Palatine and Bishopric of Durham have been restored to Bishop John Cosin who has begun the restoration of his castle at Durham which was severely defaced during its ownership by the Lord Mayor of London.
MP DIES FOUR DAYS AFTER ELECTION
1675 21st June
John Tempest, with 1034 votes and Thomas Vane of Raby Castle with 856 votes were elected as Durham County's first Members of Parliament. Thomas Vane, died of smallpox four days after his election and has been suceeded by his younger brother Christopher Vane.
CITY ELECTS FIRST MPs
1678 27th March
Sir Ralph Cole of Brancepeth Castle, with 408 votes and John Parkhurst of Catesby, Northampton, 379 votes have been elected as the first parliamentary representatives for Durham City.
MAYOR IS A DUCK
1680
John Duck, known as Durham's Dick Whittington has become mayor of Durham.
DEAN STARTS COLLECTION
1680
Dean Sudbury of Durham has set up a new library for the Dean and Chapter of Durham. The library will become a place for the deposit of Roman inscriptions found in the north and many ancient manuscripts including works by Bede.
FLOOD HITS DURHAM
1682 26th April
There has been a great flood in the River Wear at Durham.
DURHAM RACES
1683 April
In this year there has been the first recorded incidence of racing in Durham.
GLAZIER PILLORIED
1683 15th September
A glazier from Gateshead by the name of Simpson has had to stand for an hour and a half in the pilory at Durham for accepting a bribe from a Quaker.
BISHOP REFUSES BURIAL
1684 28th September
A tanner from Framwellgate by the name of John Richardson has been refused burial at Crossgate Church by the Bishop because he was under sentence of excommunication. The man has been burried in his garden at Caterhouse.
NEW CHARTER FAILS
1685
A new charter for the city of Durham has been introduced by Nathaniel, Lord Crewe, the Bishop of Durham. The charter will howvEer be quoshed because of an error and the 1602 charter will remain in force.
OLDEST RESIDENT DIES
1688 4th January
An old lady by the name of Mrs Hutchinson has died in Durham City aged 103 years.
DUCK DIES
1691 16th January
John Duck, the former Mayor of Durham known as Durham's Dick Whittington has died today.
FIVE INCH HAIL FALLS ON DURHAM
1699 23rd April
Hail stones measuring five inches in diameter have fallen upon Durham and its surroundings today.
CHRONOLOGIST DIES
1711 15th January
Mr Jacob Bee, author of the Bee Diaries, a record of unusual events and occurences has died. Durham born Bee, a former skinner and glover has been burried at St Margaret's Durham. In his later years Bee had been an outpensioner of Sherburn Hospital.
SCHOOL FOUNDED
1718
The Blue-Coat School has been founded in Durham City.
MUSTARD MADE
1720
In this year the world's first commercial production of mustard has begun in Durham City by a Mrs Clements whose secret recipe has become very popular throughout the country.
PLAN TO LINK TYNE AND WEAR BY CANAL
1720
A plan has been been put forward to join the River Tyne and Wear via a canal adjoining the River Team.
FLOOD HITS DURHAM
1721 8th July
The River Wear rose to a very great height in Durham City today.
CHOCOLATE POISONERS TO BE WHIPPED
1725
John Brown and Christopher Richardson of Gateshead have been sentenced to imprisonment today for attempting to poison their master William Coatsworth by putting arsenic into his chocolate. It has been ordered that they are to be annually whipped ten times in the market place for the duration of their sentence on the tenth day of June, being the anniversary of their crime.
MURDERER EXECUTED
1725 20th August
Thomas Charlton, a murderer, bigamist and robber from North Tynedale, Northumberland has been executed in Durham today for the brutal killing of his illegal wife.
FLOOD HITS DURHAM
1727 7th June
A great flood has hit Durham and completely blocked off all communication between Durham and the nearby village of Shincliffe for nearly twelve hours.
SECOND FLOOD in MONTH HITS DURHAM
1727 21st June
Yet another flood has innundated Durham, this is the second major flood this month.
MAN HANGED FOR MURDER OF PREGNANT WOMAN
1727
Mr William Stephenson, a grocer from Northallerton was hanged at Durham today for the murder of Mary Farding who was pregnant by him. Mr Stephenson had thrown Miss Farding into the sea at Hartlepool.
NEPTUNE BROUGHT TO MARKET PLACE
1729
A statue of Neptune, God of the Oceans has been erected in the Market Square Durham. The statue covering the octagon fountain was presented by George Bowes and is symbolic of Durham's aspirations to be a sea port.
THIEF BAPTISED AND EXECUTED
1732 August
Two notorious horse thiefs, John and James Graham were executed at Durham today. James Graham chose to be baptised at St Mary le Bow Church in the Bailey, on the morning of his execution.
PRISONERS ESCAPE
1737 19th February
Two prisoners have escaped from Durham Jail in Saddler Street. The prisoners, John Dodsworth and John Penman escaped from the jail at around ten o' clock at night after viciously knocking down the under keeper of the prison.
PLAN TO MAKE DURHAM A SEA PORT
1740
A new plan has been put forward to make the River Wear navigable from the sea to Durham City. This would greatly increase the trade and merchant wealth of Durham if it became an inland sea port.
MUSTER ON THE MOOR
1745 September
A muster of one thousand men from the county of Durham has gathered on Framwellgate Moor. The gathering is a show of loyalty to the king at a time when the Jacobite supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the rebellion in Scotland are considered a threat.
DURHAM PREPARES FOR REBELLION
1745 October
One thousand horse have been quartered at Durham in preparation for an onslaught by Scottish rebels. There are huge numbers of English troops stationed at Berwick and Newcastle.
TROOPS CELEBRATE GUY FAWKES
1745 5th November
The troops mustered in the fields around Durham fired three vollies in celebration of the November 5th Gunpowder Plot before entering the city to celebrate the event in the Rose and Crown in Silver Street.
PRINCE WELCOMED
1746 27th January
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland was welcomed into Durham at eight o' clock this evening. The Duke was greeted by the mayor, recorder and alderman and marched in a great procession through the illuminated city. Thousands of people watched the spectacle and gave great cheer.
FOUR ESCAPE JAIL
1746 8th September
Three men and one woman have escaped from Durham Jail with their irons still on.
HIGHWAYMAN EXECUTED
1748 15th August
A Highwayman from London who had taken up lodgings in Newcastle was executed today for robbing two men at Durham City and Elvet Moor. The victims were a Mr Colling and Mr Hutchinson, a Durham City attorney whose watch was taken. The highwayman named Paul Coleman took Mr Hutchinson's horse which he used to make his way back to Newcastle. Gunpowder, slugs and flints were later found at Coleman's lodgings.
MAN EXECUTED FOR ROBBING 10 YEAR OLD
1750 27th August
James MacFidum was executed in Durham today for robbing a ten year old boy on his way to school at Whickham near Gateshead last year.
FLOOD DESTROYS SHINCLIFFE BRIDGE
1753 17th February
Two arches of Shincliffe Bridge near Durham were carried away by the rising River Wear today.
RIVER IMPROVERS WIN FREEDOM OF CITY
1759 13th July
Richard the Earl of Scarborough, Richard Trevor the Bishop of Durham and the Honourable James Lumley have been presented with the freedom of the city by the corporation of Durham. They have been awarded for their part in promoting the navigation of the River Wear. This year parliament gave the go ahead for the river improvement, although little work seems to have been carried out.
BUIDLINGS REMOVED FROM BRIDGES
1760
A historic gateway tower has been removed from the end of Framwellgate Bridge in Durham City because it has proved to be an obstruction for carriages. A number of crowded buildings have also been removed from the north pillars of Elvet Bridge.
BYLAW MAKES NEW FREEMEN
1761
A bylaw has been introduced by the corporation of Durham which creates new freemen who are entitled to vote for the election of MPs in the city.
MP DISPUTE SETTLED BY PARLIAMENT
1762 11th May
The outcome of the parliamentary election in Durham last December has been successfully disputed by the losing candidate, Major General John Lambton. Major General Lambton claimed that the outcome of the election was determined by the votes of the occasional freeman and that if their votes had been set asside he would have been victorious by 192 votes. Today the House of Commons resolved that the occasional freemen had no right to vote and that the present MP Ralph Gowland must step down in General Lambton's favour. On entering the city of Durham, as new MP the General was greeted by great celebration and chaired through the city after leaving his
SKATING ON THE RIVER
1763 18th January
The River Wear has frozen over at Durham and prompted many of the inhabitants of the city to indulge in the passtime of skating.
OLDEST RESIDENT DIES
1765 6th October
Margaret Green, Durham's oldest resident died today aged 102. She is said to have retained her senses until the very end.
SHOP FALLS INTO RIVER
1768 September
The floor of a smith's shop on Elvet Bridge collapsed just as the smith opened the door to enter it. All his tools plunged into the river, and were followed shortly after by the whole fabric of the building itself.
MOOR DIVIDED UP
1769
The two hundred acre Crossgate Moor near Durham has been divided up. The Dean and Chapter will reserve six pence per acre and revenue from mining.
FLOODING IN THE CITY
1770 8th November
The River Wear has flooded Durham City today and several cellars in the neighbourhood of Elvet have overflowed causing great damage.
NEW THEATRE
1771 10th July
A new theatre was opened on the north side of Drury Lane off Saddler Street, today with a performance of 'The West Indian'. The theatre replaces an earlier theatre which stood a little further down Drury Lane.
BIGGEST FLOOD EVER HITS DURHAM
1771 November
A great river flood has hit the north destroying several bridges and claiming lives on the Tyne and Tees. The River Wear at Durham is eight feet ten inches higher than it has ever been known before. At the end of Framwelgate Bridge two houses have been swept away, a water mill belonging to the cathedral has been severely damaged and a bridge belonging to the Dean and Chapter has been completely destroyed. Four of the arches of Elvet Bridge have been carried away by the flood and all buildings and gardens in the city near the river edge have been left ruined. A number of horses, cows and and other livestock have been drowned in the stables and byres of the city. No lives have been lost to the flooding in the city although one young woman was rescued from the river by a fellow servant after she was carried 700 yards by the fast flowing water.
NEW BRIDGE BUILT FOR DEAN AND CHAPTER
1772 August
The foundation stone of a new bridge belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Durham (Prebends Bridge) has been laid at Durham. The Dean and Chapter architect George Nicholson will be responsible for the construction of the new bridge which will replace the bridge destroyed by the great flood of November last year.
ELVET MOOR DIVIDED
1772
The four hundred acre Elvet Moor near Durham has been divided up. The Dean and Chapter will reserve six pence per acre in rent and all revenue from mining.
PORTCULLIS BROKEN
1773 11th February
The portcullis in the medieval gateway between Saddler Street and the North Bailey came crashing down today while workmen were busy enlarging the jail that occupies this building. This is believed to have been the first time the portcullis has been down for over a century. The workmen have cut the portcullis into pieces to restore communication between the Bailey and Saddler Street.
MAN EXECUTED FOR ROBBERY
1773 23rd August
A man was executed at Durham today for the robbery of a Polish Jew near Darlington. The sentenced man Matthew Vasey had stolen ninety guineas from his victim.
WOMAN DIES AGED 104
1774 February
An old woman by the name of Eleanor Shipley died in Durham City this month aged one hundred and four.
TOWER COLLAPSES
1774 2nd March
An outer tower of the castle wall collapsed during the night close to Saddler Street.
REFORMER VISITS JAIL
1774
John Howard a prison reformer has visited Durham Jail and has severely criticised conditions in the prison.
DURHAM CATHEDRAL IN NEED OF REPAIRS
1776
A number of general repairs to Durham Cathedral have been undertaken this year after a survey showed some parts of the fabric of the building to be in decay. The repairs will take several years at an expense of £2000 per year.
NEW BRIDGE OPENED
1778 11th April
A new bridge, Prebends Bridge was opened to the public today. It has been built by the architect of the Dean and Chapter Mr George Nicholson.
NEW CHARTER
1780
A new charter has been introduced for the Corporation of Durham by Bishop Egerton. Anomlaies concerning the election of the mayor have been removed from the new charter.
MARKET CROSS REMOVED
1780
The market cross in Durham market place has been taken down due to its ruinous condition. Part of this pillared cross will be used in the construction of a new market piazza next to St Nicholas Church.
OLD SOLDIER DIES
1783 7th July
William Towson a former foot soldier in the Duke of Marlborough's regiment died in Durham City today aged one hundred and four.
THEATRE CLOSES
1785
Durham's Drury Lane theatre has closed folowing a legal dispute regarding the lease.
MAN AND WIFE EXECUTED
1785 1st August
William Hamilton and his wife Isabella were executed at Durham today for breaking into and robbing a house near Witton Gilbert. Two other executions also took place today of Mr Thomas Elliott for horse theft and Duncan Wright for house breaking.
LIGHTING AND PAVING FOR DURHAM
1790
An act has been obtained this year for paving and lighting in the city of Durham. Tolls will be imposed for this purpose.
GATE REMOVED
1791
Clayport Gate, a medieval gateway situated at the point where Claypath joins the Market Place has been removed along with some adjoining shops and houses. The gate consisted of a weak single arch of stone and rubble with a foot passage on its eastern side.
NEW THEATRE OPENED
1792 12th March
A new theatre has been opened in Saddler Street, Durham behind the Lord Neslon Inn ('The Shakespeare') Opening productions will include a comedy called 'Wild Oats' and a farce called 'The Spoiled Child'.
INFIRMARY OPENED
1793 17th September
A new infirmary has been opened in Allergate, Durham. A procession from Palace Green to the Infirmary led by the Bishop and Dean marked the occasion. A special production of the tragedy Cato was presented at the theatre in Saddler Street to raise funds for the institution.
'BAUBLESHIRE' DUKE DIES IN WORKHOUSE
1796
A man by the name of Thomas French has died in the workhouse at Durham. He is otherwise known by the assumed name 'The Duke of Baubleshire' a title for which he takes great pride in pretending to be a peer of the realm. He wore a star painted of cloth or pieces of paper on his breast, a cockade on his hat and several brass rings on his finger. He claimed to be in regular correspondence with the king on important matters of state and defence.
ARMED ASSOCIATION FORMED
1798
An armed association has been formed in Durham City. Five hundred inhabitants of the city enrolled, from which a band of three hundred men were selected by Ralph John Fenwick Lord Lieutenant colonel commandant.
ROPE BREAKS DURING EXECUTION
1799 22nd July
Mary Nicholson was executed at Durham today for poisoning her mistress. Before the hanging was complete, the rope broke and the woman fell to the ground. The sentence was continued an hour later.
DURHAM'S OLDEST WOMAN DIES
1799 1st September
A one hundred and two year old woman was burried at St Oswald's Church, Elvet today.
SOUP KITCHEN ESTABLISHED IN DURHAM
1800
A soup kitchen has been established at Durham in the hall of St Nicholas Church. A great quantity of soup is to be distributed to the poor of the district who have suffered great poverty as a result of a bad harvest last year.
MAN DIES AGED 102