A very pleasant walk in
this beautiful city. Covering around 1 mile.
Begins and ends Market Place **
Getting
there.
Rail -On main rail line
London-Edinburgh. (Ask for Milburngate Bridge, then Mkt.Pl)
Road
-Access from A167 from West and A1M East. 2 mls from the A1(M) Junct.
62-A690 (Park
Prince Bishop's Shopping Cntr)
Bus -Buses from all major
cities. (Ask for Nth. Rd- City cntr- Framwellgate Bridge-Silver St)
Durham County Map
Historically
Northern Battles
Durham
Now Walk in this magnificent City...
**Market
Place (Mkt-Sat)
The 'fulcrum' and
'focal' point of the city, was built outside the city walls to maintain the military
stronghold.
Markets were first held in 1179. The Police, until
'pedestrianisation' in 1976, used it was a strategic base to monitor and control
all city traffic flow by TV cameras.
The
City Church of St.Nicholas-(1858)
replaced Norman Church, north wall once continued as part of the city wall. Modernised in
1981.(Open daily (shop) Anglican Sunday services.
The Horseman-1861-shows
the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry a local coal owner, builder of
Seaham Harbour a Town on the NE Coast. The Statue is an illustration of one
the first uses of electro plating. (Rumour sculptor committed suicide when he found
the Horse has no tongue!)
The Town and
Guildhall Hall-1555...rebuilt by
public subscription in 1851 and remodelled on the original, is constructed on
arches; space underneath and around being used as a market. Inside as well as
offices is a 'Religious' Guildhall and art gallery some of which some of the
interior dates back to 1665.
The Town Hall has in it preserved items of
clothing and a violin belonging to a notable 18C Polish Dwarf called Count
Joseph Borruwlawski. A character who was so popular he was buried in the
Cathedral aged 97. See magnificent stain glass window and fireplace built with
local stone.
The Market
Tavern-famous for its association with
mining: at a meeting in 1869, The Durham Miner's Association was
formed.
Indoor Market
1851. Open Mon-Sat 9-4:30. Lift.
Facilities. Vast variety of shops.
Pant -beyond the indicator
board on the bollard, an octagon of small granite setts marks the site of the
'Pant' the main supply of public water btwn.1450-1849.Water for the pant was
supplied by pipe from the Fram Well at Crook Hall across the river to the north
east. It was demolished in 1923.
King
Neptune's Statue -the bare-bottomed
statue of Neptune originally placed in the Market Square in 1729 replacing the
pant. It was removed in 1923 and rested until 1991 when it was returned.
Leaving Market Place
Visit the
Tourist Info. Cntr. in the Market Place and collect up to date info. on opening
times.
Leave the Market Place for the next part of your journey by taking
Fleshergate / Saddler Street
which leads off next to 'Bimbi's'
Restaurant.
Fleshergate-Leading to Saddlergate.
You are now in the area of
Fleshergate thought to have taken the name from the number of butchers shops
there. With the word Flesh Hewer being a colloquialism for a butcher. Walk on up
Saddler Street the road splits into two either side of the Magdalen Steps (named
after a nearby house). The street on the left leads to Elvet Bridge (1160) and
was known as Souter (shoemaker) Peth, once known as the street of Cobblers.
Follow Saddler Street.
Saddler Street
There are two theories as to how the street got its
name. The first that there were several Saddler's trading in the area, and the
second is that the oldest house in the street no.79 was the residence of Sir
Richard Sad(d)ler 16C and the street was named after him. A recent dig
uncovered timber houses of around 1000 yrs old. Next you will see the Teapot
(indicating a Grocer's) outside no.73-75. At the rear of this address was
arguably the countries first mustard factory belonging to Mrs. Clements and
producing Durham Mustard. The business changed hands and was eventually bought by
the famous Colmans Mustard Group. Walk up Saddler Street.
Moatside lane.
Now look for no.64-63.Here you will find
Moatside lane (or Motte-side
lane (1898)). The lane follows the
defensive castle wall hence the possible origin of the name.
41-42 you
will see a beautiful Victorian shop front, which is now two
houses.
Drury Lane. Walking further on look for no's. 44-43.
A steep lane
leading to the river named, it is believed, after 2 theatres which stood nearby.
The first 1722-1791. The other 1797-1850. Look for the double fronted building
which was the entrance to the theatre and now claims to be the oldest shop front
in Durham.
The North Gate.
The Great North Gate stood outside no's. 49-50. The site
marks the beginning of 'North Bailey'.
In 1313 Robert Bruce with his Scottish
Army attacked, as a result in 1315 the gate was strengthened. Again rebuilt in
1421 it housed the city gaol as well as being the main entrance to the Castle.
1820 conditions were so poor the gate was demolished for 'redevelopment' and the
building of an Assembly Room. The prisoners were moved to a new jail (current
jail).
Owengate-Halmote Court
Passing the site of North Gate
Owengate leads off to the
right. Saddler St. becomes North Bailey. Up the cobbled rise the alley leads to
the actual site of 'Owengate' 1128. Entrance to Palace Green. Palace/Castle once
home of The Prince Bishops and is still standing.
Halmote Court (Rebuilt 1850)
Standing at corner of Owengate and Nth.
Bailey was, until 1952, a civil court. Now part of University Law School. Look
for the two carved heads.
Hatfield College 1846. The College on your left was once the home of Bishop Hatfield. The first building was a plain square tower adjoining the Red Lion Inn. It is now the second oldest university building (halls of residence).
Assembly Rooms
On the opposite side of the street are the Assembly
Rooms. Once the centre of social entertainment for the City. Where wealthy
society met, for balls, concerts and plays, mainly when Assize courts, races or
other events were taking place. It is still used for similar university social
gatherings!
Church of Mary-Le-Bow (rebuilt 1671)
Open Summer 11-4:30. tel.0191
3845589
Opposite Dun
Cow lane on your left. Evidence suggests this is the first resting place
of St. Cuthbert's body. Once a garrison church within the castle walls built
into a wall leading from the Cathedral down Bow Lane to Kingsgate. A wall which
divided the civil and ecclesiastical areas of the city.
Bow Lane
Walking on, on your left is a quaint cobbled
street...legend has it that William I ran out of the city here after being
cursed with a disease by Monks when he demanded that they open St. Cuthbert's
Coffin.
Dun Cow Lane
On your right opposite Bow Lane another quaint lane leading to
Lyegate and Palace Green. Walk up the lane to see the East Corner of The
Cathedral and Palace Green.
Palace Green--Cathedral--
Castle...
World Heritage Site
The walk leaves you free to explore the Cathedral, Castle and the buildings of Palace Green. See below for return route.
Palace Green
Part of the Norman 're-ordering' of the City Bishop
Flambard 1099-1128 cleared all the housing from the area to establish an
'Administrative Centre'. Courts, an Exchequer and other 'offices of power' were
built. The area became the centre from where the Bishops controlled the Kingdom
of Northumbria.
Cathedral (1093)
Open all year, Oct/Apr 7-6, May/Sept 7-8. Tel 0191-386
2367
Magnificent building dating from the 11th century, considered by many to
be the world's finest Norman Cathedral. Shrine of St Cuthbert and the Venerable
Bede. Bishop William of St Calais started the building of the Cathedral in 1093
to replace the 'White Church', itself a replacement for the wooden structure
built to protect the holy relics.
Green.'East-side'
Dun Cow Lane
Abbey House
Pemberton
Building
Bishop's Hospital
Bishop Cousin's Hall
Green.'West-side'
Grammar School
Alley-to river
Diocesan
Registry
University Library
Bishop Cousin's
Library
Exchequer-Chancery
Castle (1072)
Tourist
Information.
Castle Information
tel.0191-374
3863.Open Mar, Apr, Jul-Sept, 10-12.30 and
2-4.30,all other times Mon, Wed, Sat, 2-4
Believed foundations for Castle laid in 1072, in the form of
earthworks, a wooden keep and ramparts running along the course of the present
city walls. Eventually the Castle's military functions ceased and successive
Prince Bishops resided there, restoring and modifying it into the impressive
building it is today. The castle was founded soon after the Norman Conquest and
has been occupied continuously since then, albeit with several changes of role.
The castle shows the 'motte and bailey' pattern of a typical Norman fortress and
the original Norman chapel and undercroft of the Great Hall still
survive.
Suggested return routes back to Market place:
(1) Rtn. the way you came.
(2) Leave Palace
Green via the Castle and Owengate.
(3) Leave the square the way you
came in. Walk across North Bailey onto Dun Cow Lane. Down onto Knightsgate.
Cross the bridge. Turn left onto New Elvet walk down to the traffic lights. Turn
left cross 'Old Elvet' Bridge up the hill back to Mkt. Pl.
Durham Tourist Information
Service.
Thank you
Army Museum of the DLI
NW.
Please note that Newcastle Walks does
not accept liability, for the condition of the walks which can change on a daily
basis, or for any injury, fatality, loss or damages incurred by any person.
Newcastle Walks are not inviting the public to walk on any of the walks, but are
providing information about specific routes, that are available in the North
East of England. Therefore any person who decides to walk any of the walks
within this website does so of their own choice and at their own
risk.
