West Auckland

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".

The long, battlemented single-storey building immediately in front of the west towers is the Galilee Chapel, built by Bishop Hugh Le Puiset, who was known more affectionately as Bishop Pudsey (1153-1195). The Galilee is also the cathedral’s Lady Chapel. These chapels are normally constructed at the eastern end of cathedrals, and not at the west. Initially there had been an attempt to build the Lady Chapel at the eastern end, but the foundations were insecure and the walls began to crack. This was taken as a sign that St Cuthbert disliked the idea of a Lady Chapel near to his tomb, so the chapel was constructed at the west end. However, at a later stage another chapel, the Chapel of the Nine Altars, was built at the cathedral’s east end – mysteriously, this seems to have had no major structural problems.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".

The work of building the cathedral can be attributed to several distinct periods. The nave, transepts and the four west choir bays were built between 1093 and 1133; Bishop Hugh Pudsey added the Galilee Chapel at the western end in 1175; the two west towers were built between 1217 and 1226; then the east end of the choir was altered and the Chapel of the Nine Altars erected between 1242 and 1280. The great central tower was rebuilt between 1465 and 1495 after lightning and fire had destroyed its predecessor some 60 years earlier.
An extract from from"Durham Photographic Memories".