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horse with no tongue? - Durham
horse with no tongue?
by sandysmith
Tips and photos for Durham vacations and tourism, posted by real travelers and Durham locals.
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Central Towers of Durham Cathedral
  • Tip Rating:
    • yooperprof
  • By yooperprof on February 19, 2003
  • Durham Page by yooperprof
    • Dizzying heights - Durham
    Dizzying heights
    by yooperprof
    Durham Cathedral is the site of the shrine of the great St. Cuthbert, famous 7th century Bishop of nearby Lindisfarne. It's also contains the tomb of the Venerable Bede, the patron saint of English Historians. I really felt as if I were on a pilgrimage here!!

    Sorry this image is off-center. It was the last picture on my roll, and it didn't "advance" far enough to include the whole shot. Typically of me, I hadn't brought any extra film, and although I did purchase more film when I was back downstairs at the gift shoppe, I wasn't about to climb 450 steps twice in one afternoon.

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    A Brass Band Plays
  • Tip Rating:
    • yooperprof
  • Updated By yooperprof on February 19, 2003
  • Durham Page by yooperprof
    • Noteworthy musicians of Durham - Durham
    Noteworthy musicians of
    Durham
    by yooperprof
    If you saw the film "Brassed Off" you know that they take their Brass Bands seriously in the North of England. I love the tradition of public concerts in the town square.

    The band is playing beneath the statue of the triumphant Marquess of Londonderry. He was a prominent and exceedingly wealthy owner of the local coal pits. Lord Londonderry sits on his high horse above the town. I'm told that the locals have mixed feelings about him!

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    Durham Cathedral
  • Tip Rating:
    • yooperprof
  • By yooperprof on February 19, 2003
  • Durham Page by yooperprof
    • View from the riverside - Durham
    View from the riverside
    by yooperprof
    The Normans built to last. Construction on the cathedral began in 1093; this is considered by many to be the most outstanding example of Norman design and engineering in all of England. Interestingly, County Durham was governed as a Palatinate until 1836. That's probably one of the reasons why this region has such a peculiar charm!

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    Sadler Street
  • Tip Rating:
    • sandysmith
  • Updated By sandysmith on September 4, 2004
  • Durham Page by sandysmith
    • Sadler Street - Durham
    Sadler Street
    by sandysmith
    Fleshergate is now called Sadler Street - but this is not strictly correct as Sadler Street really begins where it splits into two either side of the Magdalen Steps. On the left hand side the street leads to Elvet Bridge whilst on the right Sadler Street proper leads up to the cathedral square. So here we are arriving at the cathedral - info on that and the castle can be found in the "must see" section.

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    Fleshergate
  • Tip Rating:
    • sandysmith
  • By sandysmith on August 29, 2004
  • Durham Page by sandysmith
    • walking up ols Fleshergate - Durham
    walking up ols
    Fleshergate
    by sandysmith
    From the south of the market square a cobbled street winds its way up to Durham Cathedral - the tourist way to approach it. This street was originallt called FLESHERGATE or Flesh-Hewer-Rawe - the old name for a butcher. Hence this street contained the Butcher’s shambles and the butchers slaughtered their cattle in this narrow street :-S Fortunately this unhealthy practice is no longer in operation.

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    Marquess of Londonderry
  • Tip Rating:
    • sandysmith
  • Updated By sandysmith on August 29, 2004
  • Durham Page by sandysmith
    • horse with no tongue? - Durham
    horse with no tongue?
    by sandysmith
    Steve explained the tale of the statue of the Marquess of Londonderry on horseback - like the good guide he was :-)
    Apparently the horse sculpture was declared a masterpiece - anantomically correct in every way. However a blind beggar man ran his hands over the horse sculpture and decided it had no tongue!. The sculptor, Signor Raphael Monti who had boasted no flaw could be found, was said to have committed suicide over this flaw but apparently this is unfounded.

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    Horse Sculpture
  • Tip Rating:
    • sandysmith
  • By sandysmith on August 29, 2004
  • Durham Page by sandysmith
    • Marquess on horseback - Durham
    Marquess on horseback
    by sandysmith
    The Marquess of Londonderry’s, whose full name was Charles William Vane Tempest Stewart, owned collieries nearf Durham but is principally famous as the builder of the Durham coal port of Seaham Harbour which he founded in 1828 as a rival to Sunderland.
    In actual fact the elecroplated-copper statue of the horse DOES have a tongue - not really evident even from this angle so take my word for it - it really doesn't beggar belief!

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    A favouite pub
  • Tip Rating:
    • sandysmith
  • Updated By sandysmith on September 4, 2004
  • Durham Page by sandysmith
    • Shakespeare Pub - Durham
    Shakespeare Pub
    by sandysmith
    The street leading up to the cathedral has many boutiques and pubs this one - the Shakespeare - is one of Steve's favourites. Its only tiny inside apparently - barely room for a dozen people at the most to squeeze inside. If all else fails and you can't get in the Pizza express is next door!

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    Market Square
  • Tip Rating:
    • sandysmith
  • Updated By sandysmith on September 4, 2004
  • Durham Page by sandysmith
    • Durham market square - Durham
    Durham market square
    by sandysmith
    We arrived in Durham on a really sunny Sunday morning - it was a surprise part ot the our "Tilly Tour" as I though we were heading straight for Newcastle. Anyway at this hour before the shops opened we virtually had the place to ourselves. The cobbled market square of Durham was quite impressive with the town hall, the church of St Nicholas and two stautes - a bare bottomed Neptune and the third Marquess on Londonderry on horseback - more of this in the next tip.

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    Castle & Cathedral
  • Tip Rating:
    • steventilly
  • Updated By steventilly on November 20, 2002
  • Durham Page by steventilly
    • Castle & Cathedral - Durham
    Castle & Cathedral
    by steventilly
    As seen from Framwellgate Bridge. They look beautiful sitting next to each other, overlooking the river.
    To be honest, these are Durhams two main sights and really you have to see these before all else, but be sure to take a while to wander around the streets and take a look at what else it has to offer.

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    More Durham Tips
    Overview
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    Things To Do
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    Transportation
    Tips: 11 - Photos: 4    		Restaurants
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    Shopping
    Tips: 4 - Photos: 4    		Off the Beaten Path
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    Tips: 3 - Photos: 3    		General Tips
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