Durham Cathedral

One of the most immediately eye-catching and impressive of all England's great heritage buildings, Durham Cathedral towers high above the River Wear. It perches on a rocky peninsula, dominating the city that has grown up around it. First established in the late Saxon period by the community of St Cuthbert, who fled the Viking raids bearing the bones of their saint, the Durham Cathdral we see today, including the stone-vaulted ceilings, was almost wholly created within a span of 40 years in the early twelfth century. It is an astonishing achievement. But as well as bearing testament to the architectural prowess of the past, this stunning buildiing sits at an historical crux between the stately Romanesque style and the first stirrings of Gothic architecture, in its use of pointed arches to span the great vault of the nave. The richness and variety of the geometrical ornamentation throughout the cathedral gives it its special quality. For instance, at the east end, instead of the usual Lady Chapel, the Chapel of the Nine Altars was added in the thirteenth century: a broad space more like an eastern transept, built to accommodate the flood of pilgrims attracted to the shrine of St Cuthbert. This book documents all such intriguing facets of the Cathedral's construction, with text accompanied by glossy full-colour photographs. AUTHOR: The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove is the former Dean of Durham Cathedral. SELLING POINTS: ? A comprehensive and beautiful souvenir guide to Durham Cathedral, arguably the greatest Romanesque church in Europe. ? A fresh and illuminating look at Durham Cathedral, a truly stunning building ? Specially commissioned photography 80 colour