Historic Durham
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Durham from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover Durham's listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Durham's most significant historic sites, curated from the National Heritage List for England.
Durham Castle and Cathedral
City of Durham
The official listing for all World Heritage sites is held by UNESCO and can be found on their website.
Statue of Third Marquess of Londonderry
City of Durham
Statue of the Third Marquess of Londonderry, 1858, to the designs of Raffaelle Monti. Read the official list entry to find out more.
War memorial outside St Oswald's Church, Durham
City of Durham
First World War memorial, 1921, with later additions for the Second World War.
Historic Durham through time
The National Heritage List for England contains hundreds of details about buildings and places, including the periods in which they were built and the uses they've had over the years. Explore how your local area has changed through time.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanantly altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanantly altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Durham
Historic aerial photography shows the growth and changes in England's urban and rural landscapes, revealing secrets that are impossible to see from the ground.
Durham
The Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin and the castle, Durham, 1926
Durham
Durham Cathedral and the Peninsula, Durham, 1948
Durham
Mono Containers Ltd Factory on Dragon Lane, Durham, 1948
Durham
Mono Containers Ltd Factory on Dragon Lane, Durham, 1948
Durham
Durham, the Durham Miners' Gala at the Racecourse, 1948
Durham
Durham, the Durham Miners' Gala at the Racecourse and Old Elvet, 1948
Durham
The Market Place and Saddler Street on the day of the Durham Miners' Gala, Durham, 1948
Durham
Durham Castle and the city centre, Durham, 1947
Durham
Durham Cathedral and the peninsula, Durham, 1947
Durham
The Castle and Palace Green, Durham, 1947
Historic England Archive images of Durham
The Historic England Archive holds and cares for over 15 million images, from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Durham's past.
Charles George Harper Collection
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1800 - 1900
Watercolour painting of Neville's Cross
Eric de Mare
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Exterior view of Bishop Cosins Hall on the Palace Green in Durham.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1965 - 1979
A view from the footbridge looking across the lake towards Van Mildert College, Durham with one of the Tyne and Tees student accommodation blocks...
John Gay Collection: Counties
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1972
Chinese ceramics and a marble horse from the Malcolm Macdonald collection at the Oriental Museum, Durham University
John Laing Collection
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 01 Aug 1972
A view along a corridor off an entrance to the life science block at Durham University
Walter Scott
County Durham
Date created: 1946
Looking through the nave of Durham Cathedral, showing the tall 17th century wooden font cover
Eric de Mare
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1945 - 1980
General view of the John Heath monument in St Giles' Church in Durham.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1965 - 1979
A view from the footbridge looking across the lake towards Van Mildert College, Durham with one of the Tyne and Tees student accommodation blocks...
John Gay Collection: Counties
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1972
Chinese ceramics and a marble horse from the Malcolm Macdonald collection at the Oriental Museum, Durham University
John Laing Collection
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 03 Aug 1972
A view from the south-east across fields towards the life science block at Durham University
Alfred Newton and Sons
Durham, County Durham
Date created: 1900 - 1920
GENERAL VIEW FROM RIVERBANK WITH CITY IN DISTANCE
Stories about heritage in Durham
Historic England publishes news, blogs, videos and podcasts celebrating England's heritage. Discover the stories we have about Durham.
16 Stories of African Lives in Northern England
Mentions Durham
Discover the often untold stories of brilliant and resilient people of African heritage.
8 of England’s Most Beautiful Cathedrals to Visit
Mentions Durham, Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin
From Norman to Modernist, there are many different architectural styles on show in England’s cathedrals.
A Guide to Norman Architecture in England
Mentions Durham, Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin
Norman architecture is a style of medieval architecture built in England following the Norman conquest in 1066.
The Modernist Buildings of Engineer Ove Arup
Mentions Durham, Kingsgate Bridge
Ove Arup is considered to be one of the most important structural engineers of the 20th-century. Here’s our guide to his most significant work.
7 Places That Tell Us About the History of Migration in England
Mentions Durham
These 7 objects help to tell the history of migration journeys to England.
The First 7 UK World Heritage Sites
Mentions Durham, Durham Castle and Cathedral
Discover the first UK sites to receive UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.
6 Listed Bicycle Sheds
Mentions Durham
There are 16 bicycle sheds on the list, each telling a story of considered architectural design.
10 Tips for Architectural Photography
Mentions Durham
Our photographer James O. Davies gives his best tips to taking architectural photos.
Explore your social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about heritage in their local area.
The Keep, Palace Green, Durham
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
The Keep is part of University College and is used as study bedrooms.
The Keep, Palace Green, Durham
The Castle, West Range, Palace Green, Durham
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
Construction of a castle at Durham was begun around 1072. It was built as a symbol of Norman power in the north.
The Castle, West Range, Palace Green, Durham
The Castle, North Range, Palace Green, Durham
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
Construction of a castle at Durham was begun around 1072. It was built as a symbol of Norman power in the north.
The Castle, North Range, Palace Green, Durham
North Road, Durham, Durham
Period: Edwardian (1902 - 1913)
A view along North Street towards the railway viaduct. The building with the domed top is the Miners Hall which was built in 1875.
North Road, Durham, Durham
Former Workhouse, Crossgate, Durham
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
Durham Union workhouse was built in 1837 on Crossgate. It was originally intended to accommodate 150 inmates and the architect was George Jackson.
Former Workhouse, Crossgate, Durham
Former Fulling Mill, The Banks, Durham
Period: Stuart (1603 - 1713)
This building was originally a water mill and house. It dates from the 17th century and probably incorporated some fragments of an earlier building.
Former Fulling Mill, The Banks, Durham
Durham Cathedral, Durham
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
Cathedral church, originally the church of a Benedictine Priory. The priory was refounded in 1541, after the dissolution, as a secular cathedral.
Durham Cathedral, Durham
Cathedral Cloister, Palace Green, Durham
Period: Medieval (Middle Ages) (1066 - 1484)
Cathedral church, originally of a Benedictine Priory. It was refounded in 1541, after the dissolution, as a secular cathedral.
Cathedral Cloister, Palace Green, Durham
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