The name Durham comes from the Old English “dun – holm” meaning “hill – island” and was given this name due to its steep, hilly embankments. As far back as 2000 BC histories of settlements in Durham have been traced but the present city can clearly be traced back to 995 AD where it was founded by the Monks of St Cuthbert who had been the Bishop of Lindisfarne. Following his death in 698 the monks believed that miracles had happened around St Cuthbert’s body so, following the Viking raids on the coast of England in the 10th Century they took his body and left looking for a safer place to live. After a period of 10 years they eventually settled at Durham.
999 – Stone Minster (a White Church) is built for the monks at Durham as a  shrine to St Cuthbert and his body acted as a magnet for pilgrims and  visitors. Soon a town grew up on the site.

1069 – The Monks fled Durham but returned again in 1070.

1072 – The Normans built a castle in Durham as a way of keeping the       inhabitants in order.  They then went on to build a Benedictine priory (     small abbey) to replace the community who looked after St Cuthbert’s     body.

1093 – The Norman bishop of Durham, William of Calais began a Cathedral. It     was here that St Cuthbert’s body was finally laid to rest in 1104. The  Cathedral was finally completed in 1133.

In the Middle Ages the centre of Durham was the peninsula formed by the bend in the river. Within this was the Cathedral, Castle and the Priory. Northeast of this was an area known as St Giles borough which grew up around the St Giles Hospital which was founded there in 1112.

The main industry in Durham at this time was in leather and there were many tanners. As well as this, however, manufacturing of wool was also carried out here.

1356 – The first town hall in Durham was built

1538 – A severe blow to Durham was dealt when Henry VIII’s men smashed the  shrine of St Cuthbert. This was bad for the town as many pilgrims would  travel to see it and in doing so spend money.

1539 – Henry closed the priory but in 1661 it was rebuilt and became a well     known public school.

1544, 1589 + 1598 – Like all Tudor towns around it there were outbreaks of the      plague during this time.

1718 – A blue coat charity school was opened ( named so due to the colour of     the uniforms)

1722 – Durham’s first theatre opened in Saddler Street

1771 – Durham suffered a severe flood

1787 – Durham infirmary was founded

1790 – An act of Parliament was passed setting up a body of men to pave and     light the street (with oil lamps)

1801 – Durham had a population of about 7,500 by 1821 it was 9,800 and by the     middle of the 19th Century it had reached 14,000.

The Industrial Revolution largely passed by Durham though throughout the 19th Century it became famous for its organ and carpet making as well as brewing and paper mills.

1820 – Durham Prison was built

1824 – Durham was given gas street lighting, later sewers were dug and a piped     water supply began

1832 – Durham University was founded as Britain’s 3rd university

1836 – Durham gained its first police force

1844 – The railway reached Durham

1851 – The Town Hall was rebuilt using money that was raised by public       subscription. Later this year a covered market was opened.

1901 – The population of Durham was now approximately 16,000

1920’s and 1930’s – Private Houses were built known as North End, Gilesgate      Moor and Whinney Hill

1952 – The chapel within the castle was opened for religious use after a gap of     nearly 400 years.

1952 – 1973 – The University was expanded starting with the building of St                 Marys College in 1952, The School of Oriental Studies in 1960,    Grey College in 1961, St Aidan’s College in 1965, The Van Mildert    College in 1966, Trevelyan College in 1967 and finally Collingwood   College in 1973.

1963 – The new County Hall was built

1964 – The Magistrates Court was built

1968 – The whole of Durham is designated as a conservation area and this was     first designated on the 9th of August of this year and was then later       extended on the 25th November 1980

1969 – The Museum of the Durham Light Infantry was opened

1970 – The University Botanic Gardens was opened.

1976 – The Millburngate shopping centre was built and then enlarged in 1987

1987 – Durham Castle and Cathedral were declared world heritage sites

1999 – The Prince Bishops shopping centre was opened.

2002 – Durham Cathedral was voted as favourite building by listeners of Radio     4’s Today programme.

Today the population of Durham City itself is 27,000 while the population of the district is 81,000.

With the best of intention all of the above information is true, correct and given in good faith, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions contained within the above.

Equally we recommend that should you need or want to find out more you should conduct more detailed independant research.