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The
Building of the Cathedral: Documentary Sources|
Durham Cathedral and Anglo-Norman Romanesque
Professor Roger Stalley
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Although
there are no contemporary descriptions of the building of the
cathedral, there are a number of documents which throw light
on the history of the building. These include a History of the
Church of Durham by the monk Symeon, first compiled c. 1104–9,
but continued later by other members of the community, and various
accounts of miracles attributed to St. Cuthbert (see: D. Rollason,
'Durham Cathedral 1093–1193 sources and history', in Engineering
a Cathedral, ed., M. Jackson, pp. 1-15).
Key dates:
1092/3: William of St. Calais orders the Saxon church to be
demolished.
1093: start of the new cathedral: 29th July: digging of foundations
begins. 11th August: first stones laid by Malcolm King of the
Scots and Prior Turgot.
1096: death of Bishop William of St. Calais; monks take over
the funding of the building for three years.
1099: appointment of Ranulph Flambard as bishop; by now the
church was erected as far as the nave.
1104: translation of relics of St Cuthbert into the new church;
fall of the wooden centering supporting the stone vaults over
the choir.
1128: death of Ranulph Flambard; cathedral finished 'usque testitudinem'
(lit. covering or roof): this implies the nave vault was not
yet constructed.
1128–33:
bishopric vacant; nave brought to completion by the monks.
c. 1175–80:
addition of galilee chapel at the west end under Bishop Hugh
of Le Puiset (1153–95).
briefing
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