Finchale Priory

The history of Finchale began in about 1115 when St Godric built himself a hermitage. In about 1150 a chapel dedicated to St John Baptist was added, and on the death of Godric in 1170 at the ripe old age of 105, the site was acquired by the Benedictines of Durham Priory. Before the end of the century Finchale had become a dependent house of about nine or ten monks. A large amount of building work was undertaken during the 13th and 14th centuries, and it appears that Finchale was used as a holiday centre by the monks of Durham. It was dissolved in 1538.
An extract from from"County Durham Photographic Memories".

Following Godric’s death, Finchale passed into the hands of the priors of Durham Cathedral. A Benedictine priory was built here around 1196 by Henry Pudsey, son of Hugh, Bishop of Durham. From the 14th century the priory had four resident monks, but monks from Durham Cathedral made regular visits to Finchale, which they used as a kind of holiday retreat. It is most likely that the monks travelled to Finchale above ground, but there is a legend that a secret passage runs underground from Durham Castle to Finchale.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".

This wonderful photograph shows a beautiful convertible car, probably belonging to one of the landed gentry; the two delivery men enjoy a break whilst their horses tuck into their nosebags; and the little boy watches the cameraman at work. The spire of St Nicholas’s dominates the Market Place. In 1857 this Victorian church replaced an earlier church of St Nicholas, which dated from the 12th century - it had a tower. On the left, next to the Prudential Assurance building, is the Market Tavern, where the Miners Union was formed in 1871. In the foreground is the statue of Neptune on top of the octagonal pant (a northern word for a public fountain). Neptune was placed here in 1729 to symbolise an ambitious plan to turn Durham into an inland sea port; this would have resulted in the unthinkable - the joining of the rivers Tyne and Wear! Neptune’s neighbour is the statue of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, who owned collieries around Durham and also constructed Seaham Harbour in 1828. The statue was sculpted by Raphael Monti, who reputedly committed suicide following the discovery of a flaw in his creation. According to legend, Monti had boasted that his statue was perfect, but a blind beggar man was feeling in the mouth of the horse and discovered that it had no tongue.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".

Once a vital part of the city’s defences, the river in recent times has been used for more pleasurable purposes. Boating is a popular pastime, and the river is used by a variety of pleasure and competitive craft. In the foreground we see a couple of moored rowing boats that would be used to take lady friends for a gentle meander along the river on a fine, sunny afternoon, whereas on the river are a couple of skiffs that would be used for more competitive purposes.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".

After climbing through the narrow streets of Durham, we suddenly come upon a dramatic opening into the light and space of Palace Green, dominated by the awesome cathedral. This great space was created by Bishop Flambard at the beginning of the 12th century: he decided to demolish the clutter of wooden houses and the market place because of the potential fire hazard to the castle and cathedral.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".