Durham

This article is about the English city of Durham. For other uses see Durham (disambiguation)

Durham is a city in County Durham in North East England, roughly 20 miles south of Newcastle upon Tyne. The city centre is enclosed on three sides by the River Wear[?].

It is home to the University of Durham; its Cathedral and Castle[?] (now University College Durham), which face each other across Palace Green, are jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In medieval times, Durham was a major centre of both political and ecclesiastical power, mainly due to its strategic importance near the border with Scotland. The Prince Bishops[?] had in their Palitinate[?] the power over life and death, coined their own money and maintained their own armies. Every Bishop of Durham from 1071 to 1836 was a Prince Bishop except the first Norman-appointed bishop Walcher, who was an Earl-Bishop.

A popular annual event in Durham is the Durham Miners Gala[?]

Although Durham is geographically situated in County Durham its local government, the City Council, is quite independent of Durham County Council.

Much more could still be added ...

External link

• Durham City Council (http://www.durhamcity.gov.uk/)
• Virtual tour (http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dla0www/c_tour/tour.html) of the "Peninsula" (the old city centre containing castle and cathedral).