THE CASTLE AND UNIVERSITY
No notice of Durham and its cathedral would seem complete without some
mention being made of its fortress, the growth of which has been
contemporary with, and, we might almost say, inseparable from that of
the monastery itself.
There can be little doubt that other than the miraculous considerations
assigned to them by tradition influenced the monks and the congregation
of S. Cuthbert in their final choice of a resting-place for the bones of
their beloved saint. The almost impregnable position of the rocky
promontory upon which both Cathedral and Castle stand suggests a careful
selection on their part, with a view to the prevention of attack and
consequent further disturbance of their sacred relics. What the first
fortification was is a matter of doubt; most probably it was merely a
wall or rampart of earth, with a large artificial mound at the weakest
point. This seems to have been the usual practice at an early date at
many other places in England, and in some cases their date is known and
corresponds to the time at which Durham was probably first fortified.
Whatever the earliest protections were, we know that in 1072 William the
Conqueror, on his way from Scotland, passed through Durham. He quickly
perceived the natural advantages and strength of the position, and gave
orders for the erection of a castle. This was at once set about, during
the episcopacy of Bishop Walcher, and continued under Carileph and
Flambard. Of this building, which might be styled "The Conqueror's
Castle," not much remains. The most important is the #Chapel# or
Crypt, which belongs, no doubt, to the earlier part of the period named
(1080 to 1096). In plan the chapel has a nave and two aisles. The roof
is vaulted, the ribs being plain, semi-circular, and square recessed,
and is supported by six circular columns. The capitals of these columns
are a somewhat interesting feature, owing to their Lombardic character.
The abaci are square and moulded, while the caps proper carry at their
angles rudely carved volutes such as occur in the White Tower, London.
Each capital is also carved differently with curious and rude devices.
Of the three windows which terminated the nave and aisle at the east
end, one has been destroyed to make way for a staircase and the other
two are built up. The original windows of the chapel were very narrow
and widely splayed. In the walls are an aumbrey and the remains of two
altars.
[Illustration: The Chapel or Crypt, Durham Castle.]
Other remains of this date are somewhat scattered. Two windows in the
undercroft of Bishop Bek's, or what is now known as #Bishop Hatfield's
Hall#, are examples. They have converging jambs, the semi-circular
heads being cut from one stone and the inside very widely splayed. The
wall from the keep to the chapel, and that from the keep to the gateway
are also Norman work, as are also portions of the gateway itself.
The next important changes in the castle were made by Bishop Pudsey,
1153-1195, who not only repaired the existing work but built a hall,
known as #Pudsey's Hall#. Although this hall has now almost entirely
disappeared, through repairs and alterations, sufficient evidence as to
its whereabouts and general plan is forthcoming. It was of two storeys,
the lower and upper halls. Entrance to the lower hall was originally
gained by a staircase which led from the courtyard to the splendid
doorway now enclosed in Tunstall's Gallery. This magnificent entrance
having been covered with lath and plaster, and for long completely
forgotten, was unearthed by, and at the expense of Bishop Barrington,
early in the present century. It is in good preservation and is a
splendid specimen of rich Norman architecture. It consists of five
orders, all richly carved and moulded. Three orders rest on carved
capitals and shafts, and two are carried down the jambs of the doorway.
The stairway has entirely disappeared, but there is little room to doubt
that it would be of much the same character as that in the close at
Canterbury; and to the protection afforded by the staircase roof, we
are, no doubt, indebted for the good preservation of the arch mouldings
of the doorway itself.
What was originally Pudsey's Upper Hall is now styled the #Norman
Gallery#. The greater portion of this gallery is at the present time
divided into chambers of residence for the students of the university.
It is reached by the Black Staircase and a doorway in the Early English
Gothic style. The interior of the south and west walls are enriched by
arcades in groups of three, the central bay of each of which is larger
than those flanking it, and is pierced by a window. The arches of the
arcade rest on shafts and cushion capitals, and are carved with chevron
ornament. The whole arrangement hereabouts bears the impress of having
been a portion of one great building, which an examination of the roof,
lead, and general outline makes even more certain.
On the western side of the courtyard stands the great #Bek's Hall#,
built by the bishop of that name. It is above the Norman undercroft,
previously mentioned. Much of its original character is now lost, owing
to restorations, curtailments, and alterations. Bek's doorway is still
in existence, though much hidden by the porch erected later by Bishop
Cosin. It has a pointed arch of two orders, with detached shafts in the
jambs. Another original relic, unrestored, is part of the window nearest
the fireplace, which is valuable as evidence of the date of the erection
of the hall. The tracery is geometrical, and the shafts in the angles of
the splays are banded. About the year 1350 Bishop Hatfield enlarged and
altered Bek's hall. At the west end he inserted two light windows, which
are now blocked, though the tracery may be seen from students' rooms
inside, and partly from the outside. The open oak roof, with the
exception of some necessary later repairs, is of Bishop Hatfield's time.
Hatfield repaired and altered Pudsey's upper hall by the addition of
east and west windows, and probably a new roof. He also rebuilt the
#Keep#, which time and war had greatly injured. The existing keep,
which was erected in 1840, is similar to Hatfield's, and in many places
stands upon the old foundations. It is now used entirely as apartments
for students of University College.
Bishop Fox (1494-1501) is responsible for the next important changes. He
curtailed the great hall by a partition wall near its south end, which
still exists. The wall bears his badge in two places--a pelican feeding
her young with blood from her breast. He also adapted part of Pudsey's
buildings, near the south-west corner of the castle, to the purposes of
a kitchen, erected three fireplaces, and windows, and the oak buttery
hatch which opens from the kitchen, and which again has carved upon it
"the pelican in her piety."
Bishop Tunstall (1530-1558) built #Tunstall's Gallery#, which
extends from the great hall to the clock tower. It is entered by Cosin's
staircase (erected later) and by an eastern stair built by Tunstall
himself. A curious feature of this stairway is a port-hole which
commands the main entrance to the courtyard. The present beautiful
little chapel is also the work of Bishop Tunstall. It contains some
notable carved oak stalls, of earlier date than the chapel itself, which
were brought from the castle at Bishop Auckland. The carved devices of
the miserere seats of these stalls are curious and worthy of attention.
The doors in the gateway of the courtyard are the work of Tunstall's
time.
Bishop Cosin (1660-1672) found the castle in a dilapidated condition.
During the Commonwealth it had been sold to the then Lord Mayor of
London, who used it badly, to say nothing of the ruin caused by the
Scots. He spent large sums in its restoration. He added the present
porch or entrance from the courtyard to the great hall. The great
staircase in the north-west corner of the courtyard is his and bears his
arms. Within and leading to Tunstall's Gallery is the Black Staircase,
also the work of Cosin. He enlarged the chapel, and constructed and
fitted several apartments in the castle, besides several minor works. In
his will, he says, he spent the greater part of his temporal estate in
"rebuilding and repaireing the two episcopall Castles of Durham and
Bishop Auckland." This, he states, cost him seventeen thousand pounds,
including the furnishing and ornamenting of the chapels, which he did
"for the use of my successors in those Chappells for ever." Many of the
agreements between Bishop Cosin and his masons, plasterers, carpenters,
and painters, from which the exact dates and prices paid for the work
may be learned, are preserved.
The latest important work at the castle was the rebuilding of the keep,
in 1840, which was described at that time as "a picturesque ruin." It
was entirely rebuilt on its original plan. The gateway to the courtyard
was repaired and modernised by Bishop Barrington, with the existing
inartistic result.
Durham Castle owes its picturesque appearance to two causes--first, its
magnificent and commanding position, on a rocky escarpment; and second,
no doubt, to the many vicissitudes through which it has passed, the
alterations and additions made necessary by time and constant war, and
later, the entirely different uses to which the building is put.
[Illustration: Staircase in the Castle.]
It is now chiefly used as a hall of residence for university men and as
lodging for the Judges of Assize.
The most favourable time for the architectural student to visit the
castle is during one of the university vacations, otherwise many
interesting features would be denied him. Many portions (except
students' chambers) are, however, open to the public every week day.
#The University of Durham.#--From an early date, frequent mention is
made in the history of the see of Durham, of a college at Oxford called
the Durham College. Its origin is not exactly known, but by the
liberality of several bishops and priors its original endowment
increased, until provision was made for eight fellows and eight
scholars. This was the case at the time of the suppression of the
monasteries by King Henry VIII., when, owing to its connection with the
monastery of Durham, the college was also dissolved. Its revenues, were,
however, rescued, and in 1541 were handed over by the king to the newly
created dean and chapter. Thus the matter stood till 1650, when a
petition was presented to the Protector, showing the great disadvantages
to the North of England arising from the long distance of Oxford and
Cambridge, and praying that the houses of the dean and prebendaries
might be converted into a college. Cromwell took a favourable view of
the idea, and in a letter to Lenthall, the Speaker, in its support, he
says:--
"Truly it seems to me a matter of great concernment and importance,
as that which (by the blessing of God) may much conduce to the
promotion of learning and piety in these poore, rude, and ignorant
parts, there being also many concurring advantages to this place, as
pleasantness, and aptness of situation, healthfull aire, and plenty
of provisions, which seeme to favour and pleade for theire desires
therein."[7]
[7] Hutchinson, vol. i
Various delays occurred, however, and it was not until 1657 that the
Lord Protector issued his patent for the erection of the proposed
college, in a document consisting of twenty-three heads.
The college thus commenced made great progress, and would no doubt have
continued to do so, but for the constant opposition of the two great
universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Then followed the Restoration, and
with it came a reaction against all measures established during the
Protectorate. This feeling, combined with persistent petitions from the
universities, soon accomplished the downfall of the College.
Bishop Van Mildert, who was translated to Durham in 1826, during his
short episcopate saw many changes, not the least of which was the
successful revival of the scheme for a university. Powers were obtained
in 1832 for the training of students in divinity and the conferring of
degrees in other faculties. The new foundation was endowed out of the
revenues of the cathedral, and the bishop gave up the Castle of Durham
for the use of the college, besides financial assistance of L1000 for
the first year and L2000 for the following years until his death in
1836. The first warden was Dr Charles Thorp, Archdeacon and Canon of
Durham, but it was provided by an order, on the recommendation of the
Ecclesiastical Commissioners that in future the office of warden should
be permanently attached to the deanery, and that a canonry in the
cathedral be annexed to each of the professorships of Divinity and
Greek.
The government of the university is in the hands of the dean and
chapter, and the affairs administered by a warden, senate and
convocation. A royal charter was obtained in 1837 making the university
a corporate body with perpetual succession and a common seal.
The university, besides its original schools of arts and divinity, has
established schools of physical science and medicine, in connection with
the Durham College of Science at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and has recently
admitted women students to its courses and lectures.
There are many foundation scholarships and exhibitions in arts,
classics, mathematics, and theology, besides a long list of private
foundations and fellowships.
The university consists of one college and one hall. The former,
University College, occupies the Castle, and the latter, Bishop
Hatfield's Hall.
It is well supplied with libraries. The university library founded at
the opening, to which Bishop Van Mildert contributed a valuable
collection.
The library given in 1855 by the late Dr Martin Routh, president of
Magdalen College, Oxford.
The library presented by the late Bishop Maltby in 1856, which he
endowed with L1000.
A library was also bequeathed to the university in 1859 by the late T.M.
Winterbottom, M.D., of Westoe, South Shields. A large collection of
books was bequeathed by the late Bishop Lightfoot.
Two other important libraries may here be mentioned, though they do not
belong to the University--viz. the Chapter Library and Bishop Cosin's
Library.