Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site
SubmissionSubmission for for Minor Minor Modification Extension of of thethe Site Site Boundaries Bounda ry
( F i n a l Draft 1 for Public Consultation )
1) Area of the property (in hectares): the physical impact of the Cathedral built to house the relics and to demonstrate a) The area of the property as inscribed – religious as well as secular control. The 8.9 Hectares physical form of the site is essential to the importance and establishment of the b) The area of the property as proposed to fortress and its protected religious be modified – 32.3 Hectares buildings. The river and its unique 2) Description of the modification: topography allowed control from the Peninsula of the river access points and The Cathedral and Castle were built on a also the principal road north. The slope, raised Peninsula created by an incised the river and the outer riverbank all meander of the River Wear, formed as the formed essential parts of the Castle’s Devensian period of glaciation ceased. The defences. The modification area includes inner and outer banks of the steep gorge these areas and provides an authentic and river formed the defences of the evocation of the medieval riverscape Cathedral and Castle complex. The based on its original layout as now modification includes the full extent of the enveloped in a wooded landscape. The riverbanks that surround the Cathedral modification area follows the boundaries and Castle and that relate to their historic of the key ownerships. development. The 2008 modification united the two The outer boundary is defined by the principal buildings but omitted the riverbank open spaces and banks where majority of the walls of the Castle Precinct they meet the top of slope or adjacent and the defensive riverbanks and river development. They are based on itself. It also excluded the character- recognisable and defined site boundaries. defining woods, walks and gardens that The modification area is terminated at its evolved on the riverbanks. The medieval northern extent by Framwellgate Bridge to major defence line was the outer castle the west and Elvet Bridge to the east. The wall that ran around the top of the inner extended boundary includes these historic river slope and protected the central bridges that provided access to the precincts of the Peninsula. The 1986 Peninsula. inscription boundary cut through the course of the walls at Prebends’ Bridge. 3) Justification for the modification: The banks have been quarried for stone The 1986 inscription of the site used a used in the construction of the principal building-based approach that produced a buildings, the river provided power for tightly defined boundary separating the water mills and its historic crossings also Cathedral and Prebends’ Bridge from the provided access to the quarries. Two of principal Castle buildings and also the the mill sites and the weir that feeds them surrounding defences of the Peninsula. were built and are still owned by the The choice of the site was fundamental to Cathedral and are within the modification the purpose of demonstrating Norman area. The weirs stabilised the water level power over the subjugated lands of the and during times of low flows ensured a North. It enabled effective defence and constant depth of water. This increased also assimilation of the established the defensive value of the river and the religious significance of the site as the supply of water for the mills. The river and location of the relics of St Cuthbert. By its banks are now the foreground to incorporating St Cuthbert’s Shrine, the Cathedral and Castle views. Normans were able to capitalise on Durham as a recognised pilgrimage centre. The use of the riverbanks has evolved with The site’s raised location also intensified the Peninsula and its defences. When
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defensive need reduced, walks were built Bridge have revealed insights into outside the wall and part of the inner pilgrimage and trade related to the site. banks was subsequently developed into Remains of development around the gardens in association with houses along course of the principal defensive walls, the North and South Bailey. The quarries Riverbanks Gardens, Mills and quarries on the outer banks were used to form a remain to be explored. It is considered network of paths in an 18thC picturesque possible that further remains of earlier landscape with views of the river, Bridges and crossing points lie within the Peninsula and Castle/Cathedral. river. The extended area includes all of the known, new and potential sites. The 1986/2008 boundaries divided the North and South Baileys along their length. By describing the value of the area and The extension of the World Heritage Site expressing its significance for the WHS, (WHS) boundary to include their west side further conservation and protection will will complete the recognition of the be aided. Key individual assets are importance of this historic street. It will protected through historic building listing. draw into the WHS the key ranges of Unlisted assets will be assessed in relation secular buildings that evolved through to to development and change by being the 18th C and formed the basis for drawn into the WHS inscription area. subsequent collegiate use that supports Through recognition of all the historic one of the WHS’s key intangible values. assets and their setting, these will be valued and appreciated, assisting in new The modification area is an authentic management initiatives. There is demonstration of the origins and growth significant potential to add to the value of of the WHS. It contains an unchanged the WHS for the local residents and steep section of the gorge that visitors by increasing knowledge and use demonstrates why the site was initially of the riverbanks. chosen. Its banks were then shaped by 4) Contribution to the maintenance of quarrying for the WHS buildings and its the Outstanding Universal Value: subsequent development was closely related to the evolving function and The additional area fully supports the growth of the Peninsula. It is recognised Outstanding Universal Value as defined in for its geological and natural value, as a the statement (SOUV) approved in 2013 landscape in its own right and an essential and is needed to fully capture the component of the WHS. Its integrity is has significance that supports it. As noted in been conserved with all of its key stages of that statement ‘the current boundary still evolution demonstrated clearly and closely does not fully encompass all the attributes tied to the function of the Peninsula and and features that convey the Property’s WHS. The extended area contains historic Outstanding Universal Value’. The quarry areas, archaeological remains, proposed modification encloses the area listed buildings, historic gardens and walks that supports the attributes as described and scheduled monuments. Defining the in the revised SOUV and detailed in the area and drawing it into the WHS 2017 WHS Management Plan. As an recognises the collective value they have, authentic area with considerable integrity their interrelationship and close it supports and enhances the significance connection to the evolution of the WHS of the site and is an essential component site in its entirety from its origins and in demonstrating that significance. throughout its development. The key attributes derived from the Exploration of archaeological remains outstanding universal value are supported continues and recent discoveries through by the modification area and are: underwater investigation adjacent to Elvet
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Significance 2 ‘The visual drama of the The Peninsula site is an essential part of Cathedral and Castle on the Peninsula and the expression of power and defence the associations with notions of romantic through its built form. beauty’ The key elements of this are: The area contains the full extent of river, The raised and prominent ground banks and Peninsula that underpin the formation providing the basis for visual drama of the buildings of the site. enhanced physical expression and This is reflected in the key ownerships of visibility of the buildings the full area which is principally owned by The defensive gorge encircling the the Dean and Chapter, the University and peninsula associated Colleges. This is a reflection of The river forming a key part of the the historic ownership of the site as it has defences as a moat evolved for increased educational/secular The weirs deepening the river for use. defensive use.
The key elements of this are: Significance 5 ‘The continuity of use and The Ice Age formed topography of ownership over the past 1000 years as a the raised and dominant Peninsula, place of religious worship, learning and The steep sided gorge forming a residence’ dramatic enclosure to the Peninsula The bridges crossing the river, The evolution of use on the Peninsula is overlooked by the Castle and its demonstrated within the modification walls, contributing to the drama of area. the key buildings The evolution of the Wall walks and The key elements of this are: landscaped paths, closely associated The expanded site contains the full with the historic development of course of the principal defensive concepts of romantic beauty. walls as they developed from their The planted and regenerating initial construction woodland on the riverbanks creating The North and South Bailey include the current romantic image of the key buildings used for the built complex. establishment of four of the five The approaches and siting of Colleges based on the Peninsula Prebends’ Bridge after its The walks established at high level construction to allow the key view adjacent to the principal walls associated with site’s buildings. The use of the riverbanks initially for The recognition of the visual drama horticulture and later for orchards of the WHS and River Gorge and its and then full development in into romantic associations culturally. This significant landscaped gardens is typified by J.M.W. Turner’s The historic bridges as key points representations of the key views marking the arrival of pilgrims showing the integrity of buildings visiting the Cathedral and shrine and both riverbanks. The development of the river mills and weirs to service the needs of the Significance 3 ‘The physical expression of Peninsula’s religious, military and the spiritual and secular powers of the secular communities medieval Bishops Palatine that the defended complex provides’
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Significance 6 ‘Its role as a political Artefacts of pilgrimage and statement of Norman power imposed trade found in the river upon a subjugate nation, as one of illustrating the use and support the country's most powerful symbols of the site. of the Norman Conquest of Britain’ Intangible Values The Peninsula and river are integral In addition to the specific areas of to the impact of the Castle and significance there is substantial Cathedral buildings. support within the expanded area for the intangible heritage of the site The key elements of this are: building on Criterion vi as described The site’s domination is reliant in the 2017 Management Plan. on the ground formation, river and gorge These include: The control of the river The development of the crossings and road to the north educational tradition from its was essential to the control and monastic origins through to the subjugation of the north and as development of the University. protection against the The Castle and Baileys unconquered Scots accommodate five Colleges The full extensive protected site The formation of the site and forming a defended area approach bridges supporting allowing the rise of monastic the pilgrim tradition community, garrison and their Support for the development of infrastructure. the city outside the Peninsula The river and gorge surrounds supporting the romance and Significance 7 ‘The importance of its sacredness of the site archaeological remains, which are The romantic views celebrated directly related to its history and culturally continuity of use over the past 1000 The gorge, its bridges, gardens years’ and walks forming an important part of the visitor’s appreciation The area contains remains that chart and memories of the site. the continuity of evolving use. Cumulatively, in relation to the WHS, 5) Implications for legal these are of international protection: significance. The ownership of land within the The key elements of this are: modified area will not be affected by The remains of the various this boundary change. There will be stages of the principal defensive no additional legal charges made on walls are along the course of the land included in the WHS property. wall and its later walks As noted under Significance 2, there The remains of the landscape is substantial relevant historical areas, paths and gardens that evolution of ownership. This has led formed on the riverbanks, to the majority of the modification including ice houses area being owned by the Dean and The river remains of the historic Chapter. The remainder is owned by bridges following flood the University and Colleges. The destruction and rebuilding land use reflects the ownership and
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the proposed boundaries area are attached to clear physical boundaries or changes in use. There are a small number of individual buildings in private ownership around the two historic bridges and adjacent to Church Street. The County Council (already a WHS partner) owns and cares for the roads, bridges and paths.
National and local planning policies apply and these are currently the National Planning Policy Framework and the Saved City of Durham Local Plan Policies (2004). The latter are to be superseded by the new County Durham Plan. The modification area will, through its clear boundary designation and descriptions of significance, assist in understanding the impact of development within the WHS area and its setting. Implications for management arrangements:
The current arrangements will be reviewed to ensure representation through the World Heritage Site Coordinating Committee for any additional landowners whose land is included within the expanded boundary. The majority of the land is in the care of the Dean and Chapter, the University and Colleges, and Durham County Council. These key partners are currently fully engaged through the World Heritage Coordinating Committee. The new partners, the private landowners and Colleges, have been engaged in the process of proposing the modification. They and other bodies affected will be offered opportunities for engagement with the process of managing the WHS.
The expanded area will be included in any future WHS management plan
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6) Maps:
a) Original and Proposed Boundary
b) Proposed Revision
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7) Additional information, illustrative photographs:
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