Durham Cathedral, Durham Genealogy

= Cathedral History =

Durham Cathedral construction begun in 1093 and was generally completed within 40 years. .

The Cathedral was built as a place of worship, specifically to house the shrine of the North's best-loved saint, Cuthbert, in whose honour pilgrims came to Durham from all over England. It was also the home of a Benedictine monastic community.

The Cathedral also served a political and military function by reinforcing the authority of the prince-bishops over England's northern border.

The Cathedral is built on a peninsula of land created by a loop in the River Wear and the west end towers over a precipitous gorge. The northern front of the Cathedral faces onto Palace Green and here the full 496 foot (143 metres) length from west to east can be seen. The nave, quire and transepts are all Norman, at the west end is the twelfth century late Norman style Galilee Chapel and at the east end the 13th century Chapel of the Nine Altars is in the Gothic style. The western towers date from the 12th and 13th centuries and the great central tower is the most recent addition, it dates from the 15th century and displays perpendicular Gothic detailing. The original medieval sanctuary knocker can be seen in the Treasures of St Cuthbert, a modern replica hangs at the north porch door to remind of the sanctuary principle and history.

The Cloister, on the south side of the Cathedral, was begun at the same time as the Cathedral but contains much work from the 15th century or later. The College, the name given in Durham to the Cathedral Close, is a quiet area on the south side of the Cathedral. It is the home of the Cathedral clergy and others associated with its life, and of the Chorister School, a co-educational school where the Cathedral choir boys are educated. Many of the buildings surrounding the Green originated in the Middle Ages, and entry is gained via the medieval gate house which is still locked every night.

Several extra parochial areas surround the cathedral which had in its own right Parish Records.

= Parish Records =

The Parish Registers for the period 1609-1836 are deposited at Durham County Record Office, County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL.

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections DDR/EA/PBT/ 2/80 1813-1848 Parish Register transcripts are available to search free online at Record Search.

The dates of the post-1760 transcripts have been noted in detail and sometimes only cover years. For most parishes in the collection there are gaps in the sequence of transcripts. It is advisable to consult the original parish registers for these years and events.