Durham Castle

Durham Castle is a Norman fortress on the peninsula formed by the River Wear in Durham, England, founded in the late 11th century and long associated with the medieval Prince-Bishops of Durham. It forms one half of the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Durham Cathedral.

Key surviving elements include a Norman keep and a medieval Great Hall, with later alterations and domestic fittings from successive centuries. The site combines military, ecclesiastical and residential functions and today is used in part by Durham University while also offering public tours.

Construction began soon after the Norman Conquest, with major building phases in the late 11th and 12th centuries initiated by episcopal authorities to assert control of the region. The castle retained administrative and residential roles through the medieval and early modern periods and was adapted for institutional use in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The castle stands on a rocky peninsula above the River Wear in central Durham, approximately 26 kilometres (about 16 miles) south of Newcastle upon Tyne and immediately adjacent to Durham Cathedral.

• UNESCO status: Part of the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside Durham Cathedral, with origins in the Norman period after the Conquest of 1066.
• Current use: Now integrated into Durham University as a residential college where parts of the castle are used for student accommodation and guided tours are available seasonally.

What to See #

• Norman keep: The Norman keep - an 11th- to 12th-century keep forming the oldest part of the castle, built as a residence and stronghold for the bishops of Durham.
• Great Hall: The Great Hall - a medieval hall used for official and domestic functions, retaining large-scale stonework and timber elements from the high medieval period.