Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham Part 7

EXPENCES NECESSARIE.

xx | ciiii iiii li. xv s. x d. | +-------------------------^-+ Item for yerely reparacions by Estymation. cx.x.xi li. viii s. v d. | Item in exspences yerely in surveynge the landes and receyvinge | the Rentes xx li. | Item in expences for wyne and wax xiii li. vi s. viii d. | Item to a Stewarde of landes for his fee x li. | Item to an Auditor x li.-+

xx xx Sum of the common M^lCCCiiii vi li. xiii s. xd. M^lCCCCiiiixvi^{li} xv d.

Sum totall of all thies percels M^lDxxii^{li} xiii^s x^d.

Above which chargys the church indewyd with landes to susteyne the same muste pay yerely tenthes and a certayne summe by composition for the fyrste frutes deducted and abbayted.

Cx.x.xvi li. payd by the deane and prebendaries severall.

cxl li. to be allowyd by statute for almes.

x li. for the stewarde allowyd by statute.

x li. for the Auditors fee allowyd by statute.

xx The hole sume of deductions CCiiii xvi li.

And so remaynes chargeable with tenthes and fyrst frutes M^lCCxxvi li. xiii s. x d.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Chapter Library.]

[Sidenote: ]

[Fol. 33. dors.]

| ccxvi li. ix s. vi d. | +---------------------^-+ Whereof to be payd for the tenthes of the commen possession | cxliiii li. vi s. iiii d. | Item a yerely Rent to be payd by composition for the fyrste frutes | lxxii li. xii s. iid.-^

And so the Cathedrale Churche for mayntenance of the said yerely charges and paymente touchinge hospitalite lernynge divine service almes necessarie exspences tenthes and fyrst frutes after the Rates before mentionyd must yf the said shall lyke the Kings majestic be indewyd with yerely Revenues of the summe of M^lDCCx.x.xix^{li} xiii s. iiii d. MDCCxii li. x s.

CHAPTER V

THE CASTLE AND UNIVERSITY

No notice of Durham and its cathedral would seem complete without some mention being made of its fortress, the growth of which has been contemporary with, and, we might almost say, inseparable from that of the monastery itself.

There can be little doubt that other than the miraculous considerations a.s.signed to them by tradition influenced the monks and the congregation of S. Cuthbert in their final choice of a resting-place for the bones of their beloved saint. The almost impregnable position of the rocky promontory upon which both Cathedral and Castle stand suggests a careful selection on their part, with a view to the prevention of attack and consequent further disturbance of their sacred relics. What the first fortification was is a matter of doubt; most probably it was merely a wall or rampart of earth, with a large artificial mound at the weakest point. This seems to have been the usual practice at an early date at many other places in England, and in some cases their date is known and corresponds to the time at which Durham was probably first fortified.

Whatever the earliest protections were, we know that in 1072 William the Conqueror, on his way from Scotland, pa.s.sed through Durham. He quickly perceived the natural advantages and strength of the position, and gave orders for the erection of a castle. This was at once set about, during the episcopacy of Bishop Walcher, and continued under Carileph and Flambard. Of this building, which might be styled "The Conqueror's Castle," not much remains. The most important is the #Chapel# or Crypt, which belongs, no doubt, to the earlier part of the period named (1080 to 1096). In plan the chapel has a nave and two aisles. The roof is vaulted, the ribs being plain, semi-circular, and square recessed, and is supported by six circular columns. The capitals of these columns are a somewhat interesting feature, owing to their Lombardic character.

The abaci are square and moulded, while the caps proper carry at their angles rudely carved volutes such as occur in the White Tower, London.

Each capital is also carved differently with curious and rude devices.

Of the three windows which terminated the nave and aisle at the east end, one has been destroyed to make way for a staircase and the other two are built up. The original windows of the chapel were very narrow and widely splayed. In the walls are an aumbrey and the remains of two altars.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Chapel or Crypt, Durham Castle.]

Other remains of this date are somewhat scattered. Two windows in the undercroft of Bishop Bek's, or what is now known as #Bishop Hatfield's Hall#, are examples. They have converging jambs, the semi-circular heads being cut from one stone and the inside very widely splayed. The wall from the keep to the chapel, and that from the keep to the gateway are also Norman work, as are also portions of the gateway itself.

The next important changes in the castle were made by Bishop Pudsey, 1153-1195, who not only repaired the existing work but built a hall, known as #Pudsey's Hall#. Although this hall has now almost entirely disappeared, through repairs and alterations, sufficient evidence as to its whereabouts and general plan is forthcoming. It was of two storeys, the lower and upper halls. Entrance to the lower hall was originally gained by a staircase which led from the courtyard to the splendid doorway now enclosed in Tunstall's Gallery. This magnificent entrance having been covered with lath and plaster, and for long completely forgotten, was unearthed by, and at the expense of Bishop Barrington, early in the present century. It is in good preservation and is a splendid specimen of rich Norman architecture. It consists of five orders, all richly carved and moulded. Three orders rest on carved capitals and shafts, and two are carried down the jambs of the doorway.

The stairway has entirely disappeared, but there is little room to doubt that it would be of much the same character as that in the close at Canterbury; and to the protection afforded by the staircase roof, we are, no doubt, indebted for the good preservation of the arch mouldings of the doorway itself.

What was originally Pudsey's Upper Hall is now styled the #Norman Gallery#. The greater portion of this gallery is at the present time divided into chambers of residence for the students of the university.

It is reached by the Black Staircase and a doorway in the Early English Gothic style. The interior of the south and west walls are enriched by arcades in groups of three, the central bay of each of which is larger than those flanking it, and is pierced by a window. The arches of the arcade rest on shafts and cushion capitals, and are carved with chevron ornament. The whole arrangement hereabouts bears the impress of having been a portion of one great building, which an examination of the roof, lead, and general outline makes even more certain.

On the western side of the courtyard stands the great #Bek's Hall#, built by the bishop of that name. It is above the Norman undercroft, previously mentioned. Much of its original character is now lost, owing to restorations, curtailments, and alterations. Bek's doorway is still in existence, though much hidden by the porch erected later by Bishop Cosin. It has a pointed arch of two orders, with detached shafts in the jambs. Another original relic, unrestored, is part of the window nearest the fireplace, which is valuable as evidence of the date of the erection of the hall. The tracery is geometrical, and the shafts in the angles of the splays are banded. About the year 1350 Bishop Hatfield enlarged and altered Bek's hall. At the west end he inserted two light windows, which are now blocked, though the tracery may be seen from students' rooms inside, and partly from the outside. The open oak roof, with the exception of some necessary later repairs, is of Bishop Hatfield's time.

Hatfield repaired and altered Pudsey's upper hall by the addition of east and west windows, and probably a new roof. He also rebuilt the #Keep#, which time and war had greatly injured. The existing keep, which was erected in 1840, is similar to Hatfield's, and in many places stands upon the old foundations. It is now used entirely as apartments for students of University College.

Bishop Fox (1494-1501) is responsible for the next important changes. He curtailed the great hall by a part.i.tion wall near its south end, which still exists. The wall bears his badge in two places--a pelican feeding her young with blood from her breast. He also adapted part of Pudsey's buildings, near the south-west corner of the castle, to the purposes of a kitchen, erected three fireplaces, and windows, and the oak b.u.t.tery hatch which opens from the kitchen, and which again has carved upon it "the pelican in her piety."

Bishop Tunstall (1530-1558) built #Tunstall's Gallery#, which extends from the great hall to the clock tower. It is entered by Cosin's staircase (erected later) and by an eastern stair built by Tunstall himself. A curious feature of this stairway is a port-hole which commands the main entrance to the courtyard. The present beautiful little chapel is also the work of Bishop Tunstall. It contains some notable carved oak stalls, of earlier date than the chapel itself, which were brought from the castle at Bishop Auckland. The carved devices of the miserere seats of these stalls are curious and worthy of attention.

The doors in the gateway of the courtyard are the work of Tunstall's time.

Bishop Cosin (1660-1672) found the castle in a dilapidated condition.

During the Commonwealth it had been sold to the then Lord Mayor of London, who used it badly, to say nothing of the ruin caused by the Scots. He spent large sums in its restoration. He added the present porch or entrance from the courtyard to the great hall. The great staircase in the north-west corner of the courtyard is his and bears his arms. Within and leading to Tunstall's Gallery is the Black Staircase, also the work of Cosin. He enlarged the chapel, and constructed and fitted several apartments in the castle, besides several minor works. In his will, he says, he spent the greater part of his temporal estate in "rebuilding and repaireing the two episcopall Castles of Durham and Bishop Auckland." This, he states, cost him seventeen thousand pounds, including the furnishing and ornamenting of the chapels, which he did "for the use of my successors in those Chappells for ever." Many of the agreements between Bishop Cosin and his masons, plasterers, carpenters, and painters, from which the exact dates and prices paid for the work may be learned, are preserved.

The latest important work at the castle was the rebuilding of the keep, in 1840, which was described at that time as "a picturesque ruin." It was entirely rebuilt on its original plan. The gateway to the courtyard was repaired and modernised by Bishop Barrington, with the existing inartistic result.

Durham Castle owes its picturesque appearance to two causes--first, its magnificent and commanding position, on a rocky escarpment; and second, no doubt, to the many vicissitudes through which it has pa.s.sed, the alterations and additions made necessary by time and constant war, and later, the entirely different uses to which the building is put.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Staircase in the Castle.]

It is now chiefly used as a hall of residence for university men and as lodging for the Judges of a.s.size.

The most favourable time for the architectural student to visit the castle is during one of the university vacations, otherwise many interesting features would be denied him. Many portions (except students' chambers) are, however, open to the public every week day.

#The University of Durham.#--From an early date, frequent mention is made in the history of the see of Durham, of a college at Oxford called the Durham College. Its origin is not exactly known, but by the liberality of several bishops and priors its original endowment increased, until provision was made for eight fellows and eight scholars. This was the case at the time of the suppression of the monasteries by King Henry VIII., when, owing to its connection with the monastery of Durham, the college was also dissolved. Its revenues, were, however, rescued, and in 1541 were handed over by the king to the newly created dean and chapter. Thus the matter stood till 1650, when a pet.i.tion was presented to the Protector, showing the great disadvantages to the North of England arising from the long distance of Oxford and Cambridge, and praying that the houses of the dean and prebendaries might be converted into a college. Cromwell took a favourable view of the idea, and in a letter to Lenthall, the Speaker, in its support, he says:--

"Truly it seems to me a matter of great concernment and importance, as that which (by the blessing of G.o.d) may much conduce to the promotion of learning and piety in these poore, rude, and ignorant parts, there being also many concurring advantages to this place, as pleasantness, and aptness of situation, healthfull aire, and plenty of provisions, which seeme to favour and pleade for theire desires therein."[7]

[7] Hutchinson, vol. i

Various delays occurred, however, and it was not until 1657 that the Lord Protector issued his patent for the erection of the proposed college, in a doc.u.ment consisting of twenty-three heads.

The college thus commenced made great progress, and would no doubt have continued to do so, but for the constant opposition of the two great universities of Oxford and Cambridge. Then followed the Restoration, and with it came a reaction against all measures established during the Protectorate. This feeling, combined with persistent pet.i.tions from the universities, soon accomplished the downfall of the College.

Bishop Van Mildert, who was translated to Durham in 1826, during his short episcopate saw many changes, not the least of which was the successful revival of the scheme for a university. Powers were obtained in 1832 for the training of students in divinity and the conferring of degrees in other faculties. The new foundation was endowed out of the revenues of the cathedral, and the bishop gave up the Castle of Durham for the use of the college, besides financial a.s.sistance of 1000 for the first year and 2000 for the following years until his death in 1836. The first warden was Dr Charles Thorp, Archdeacon and Canon of Durham, but it was provided by an order, on the recommendation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners that in future the office of warden should be permanently attached to the deanery, and that a canonry in the cathedral be annexed to each of the professorships of Divinity and Greek.

The government of the university is in the hands of the dean and chapter, and the affairs administered by a warden, senate and convocation. A royal charter was obtained in 1837 making the university a corporate body with perpetual succession and a common seal.

The university, besides its original schools of arts and divinity, has established schools of physical science and medicine, in connection with the Durham College of Science at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and has recently admitted women students to its courses and lectures.

There are many foundation scholarships and exhibitions in arts, cla.s.sics, mathematics, and theology, besides a long list of private foundations and fellowships.

The university consists of one college and one hall. The former, University College, occupies the Castle, and the latter, Bishop Hatfield's Hall.

It is well supplied with libraries. The university library founded at the opening, to which Bishop Van Mildert contributed a valuable collection.

The library given in 1855 by the late Dr Martin Routh, president of Magdalen College, Oxford.

The library presented by the late Bishop Maltby in 1856, which he endowed with 1000.

A library was also bequeathed to the university in 1859 by the late T.M.

Winterbottom, M.D., of Westoe, South Shields. A large collection of books was bequeathed by the late Bishop Lightfoot.