Building Durham Cathedral

Brian K. Roberts

ISBN 10: 1803991186 / ISBN 13: 9781803991184

Published by The History Press Ltd, GB, 2022

About this Item

Durham Cathedral was completed nearly 900 years ago, after 40 years of construction. Inevitably it has suffered from the effects of time: physical erosion, from the weather and increasing pollution on stone that was never of the best quality, and cultural erosion, the impact of secular and religious changes - not least the depredations of clerics, improvers, and administrators. Nevertheless, it remains: the stones speak and provide the story of themselves. Building Durham Cathedral explores this magnificent structure by questioning its architectural plans and stonework. As there have been minimal additions we catch sight of it as the Norman builders intended. Remarkably, a few early documents and the stonework itself allow us to glimpse its beginnings and some of the personalities involved. Questions remain, but there may even be a clue to the identity of its original master mason.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781803991184

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Building Durham Cathedral
• Publisher: The History Press Ltd, GB
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1803991186
• ISBN 13: 9781803991184
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The Norman cathedral at Durham, built between 1093 and 1133, is a vast and awe-inspiring structure, a symbol of conquest and the harsh imposition of a new order. Its roots, origins and even some of the personalities involved are well-documented, but the fabric itself has a story to tell. It begs questions: ‘How could this have been done?’; ‘Why can this detail be seen?’; ‘What does this imply in terms of the issues the master mason faced?’.




Fine-grained observations of slight variations in the stonework, in the structural levels, in the many scars, and not least in the dimensions of the entire plan and even the thicknesses of mortar, provide structural clues. In this new and revealing study such ‘evidences’ are demonstrated and analysed, and many plans, sections and diagrams are presented to the reader to check, to accept, to modify or to challenge.

About the Author

Brian K. Roberts is a retired geography lecturer. His work involved teaching and research in the field of historical geography and the evolution of rural settlement in the UK. While not an architect, practical experience in surveying and the archaeology of rural landscapes established a strong foundation of pragmatic observation in architectural history. He lives in Durham.