Palace Green

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Palace Green
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Durham Cathedral from Palace Green.jpg
Palace Green from opposite Durham Cathedral
Palace Green
Interactive map of Palace Green
Location Durham, England
Part of Durham Castle and Cathedral
Reference 370bis
Inscription1986 (10th Session)
Extensions2008
Coordinates 54°46′28″N1°34′33″W / 54.77444°N 1.57583°W / 54.77444; -1.57583
Durham map small.svg
Red pog.svg
Palace Green
Location of Palace Green in Durham, England

Palace Green is an open space in the centre of Durham, England, flanked by Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle. The Cathedral and Castle together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Contents

Although initially not part of the site itself, Palace Green was added to the UNESCO site in 2008. [1] [2]

It is situated on top of the narrow, high peninsula formed by a sharp bend in the River Wear. The cathedral is on the southern side, facing the castle across the green on the north side. To the east are Durham University buildings including the law, theology, classics and history departments, with the music department and the university's special collections library to the west.

From the north and east Palace Green is accessed by two cobbled streets called Owengate (formerly Queen's Street) and Dun Cow Lane, the latter taking its name from a local legend involving a milkmaid and her cow. From the west a passageway, 'Windy Gap', leads down to the banks of the River Wear between two buildings which are now part of the university's music department. Early in the twentieth century one of the buildings was the home of the novelist J. Meade Falkner, author of Moonfleet .

In summer, Palace Green is sometimes used by students of Durham University as a croquet lawn with the permission from the groundsman of University College Durham. [3] [4]

'Palace Green' is also the name of a hymn tune written by Michael Fleming (1928–2006) while a music student at the university, used for the hymn 'Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above'. [5]

History

Palace Green served as the main market square of Durham until it was cleared under Bishop Flambard in the early 12th century, when the area was reserved for administrative buildings for the County Palatine of Durham and the market moved north to the current Market Place. [6] A 14th century document refers to Palace Green as having "the houses intended for the offices of the Chancery, Exchequer, and Receipt; a hall for the Pleas of Justice; a granary; a large grange; and various other rooms on the west side of the said space pertaining to the old gaol before the lord built anew the tower called ‘le Northgate’ at the entrance to the castle where his gaols now are by his ordinance; and a house for coining money built on the east side of the said space", as well as the Archdeacon's Inn. [6]

Two schools were established (one for plainsong and one for grammar) on the east side of the green by Bishop Langley in 1414 and were later refounded by Henry VIII in 1541 following the dissolution of Durham Abbey. Around 1438, Bishop Neville constructed the Exchequer building on the northwest corner of the green, which is the oldest surviving structure besides the castle and cathedral. During the English Civil War, the Scottish army captured Durham in 1640 and burnt some of the buildings on Palace Green, including the two schoolhouses. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Bishop Cosin built a number of structures on Palace Green, many of which survive today. [6]

Following the establishment of Durham University in 1832, many of the buildings on Palace Green were handed over to its use and new buildings including lecture rooms (now Palace Green Library) were constructed. [6]

The Durham Light Infantry held their final parade in front of their Colonel-in-Chief, Princess Alexandra, on Palace Green in 1968. [7]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, marquees on Palace Green were used as a testing centre run by the university. [8] It was also the site of a student encampment for 43 days in May and June 2024 as part of the global pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses that year. [9]

Buildings on Palace Green

Listed clockwise from south:

Palace Green Durham Panorama.jpg
Panorama view of Palace Green, showing Durham Cathedral to the left, the old University Library in centre, and University College and Owengate to the right.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "UNESCO World Heritage Convention - Evaluations of Cultural Properties, pp101" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Durham's World Heritage Site expands". 20 September 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  3. ↑ "Things we've actually heard Durham students say this week". Durham University. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  4. ↑ University, Durham. "University College". www.durham.ac.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Michael Fleming". Church Times. 24 February 2006. Archived from the original on 16 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Archaeological Services, Durham University (July 2009). "Land at Palace Green Durham City County Durham" (PDF). Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  7. ↑ David Lowther (10 December 2018). "Remembering the Durham Light Infantry". Sacrity Press.
  8. ↑ Sigsworth, Tim. "Covid-19 updates: University's lateral flow tests available to book from tomorrow". Palatinate. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  9. ↑ Will Dixon; Lily Gershon (20 June 2024). "Pro-Palestinian encampment to "conclude" before graduation after University notice". Palatinate .
  10. ↑ Historic England. "Cathedral Church of Christ and St Mary the Virgin (Grade I) (1161023)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  11. ↑ Historic England. "Old Grammar School (University Music Department) (Grade II*) (1160796)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  12. 1 2 "Facilities and Equipment". Department of Music. Durham University. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  13. ↑ Historic England. "Music Library (Grade II) (1322866)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  14. ↑ Historic England. "University Library (Grade II) (1310414)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Historic England. "Cosin's Library (University Library) (Grade II*) (1121382)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  16. ↑ Historic England. "Former Exchequer Building, now University Library (Grade I) (1160838)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  17. ↑ Historic England. "The Castle West Range (Grade I) (1121383)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  18. ↑ Historic England. "The Castle North Range (Grade I) (1160921)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  19. ↑ Historic England. "Castle Gatehouse, Entrance Gateway, Side Walls, Linking Walls And Front Wall (Grade I) (1322867)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  20. ↑ Historic England. "The Keep (University College) (Grade I) (1322868)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Historic England. "9 Owengate (Grade II) (1160983)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  22. ↑ Historic England. "Bishop Cosin's Hall (Grade II*) (1121384)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  23. ↑ Historic England. "Former Grammar School (University Police Office) (Grade II) (1310306)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  24. ↑ Historic England. "Cosin's Almshouses (Grade II) (1121385)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Historic England. "Former Writing and Plainsong School (Grade II) (1161005)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  26. ↑ Historic England. "Pemberton Buildings (Grade II) (1121386)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  27. ↑ Historic England. "Abbey House (Department of Theology) Buildings (Grade II) (1121387)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 January 2023.
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