A1-The Great North Road
As the Great North Road approaches Durham it forks at the inn, The Cock of the North. The left fork is a direct route northwards that leaves Durham to its east. The right fork is the road that runs through Durham city centre. Before the motorway route east of Durham was developed, the A1 took the direct left fork with the A1050 running through the city.
In the days when horses needed changing, most of the traffic must have headed for town, crossing the Elvet and Framwellgate bridges, as shown on Armstrong's 1776 road map which does not give the western alternative. Ogilby's 1675 map also takes the left fork though his road skirts the western edge of the town without crossing and re-crossing the Wear. Strange perhaps that this route did not prosper.
John Speed's map of 1610 shows how the Great North Road from the south, turns west to cross the Wear and enter the city and then turns north again after re-crossing the river.
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Some hedging? |
The approach into Durham along the A1050 takes us past the university's Botanic Gardens. There are some interesting greenhouses, a great collection of hardy ferns, acres of arboretum with Manx Loghtan sheep, some strange sculptures and a nice cafe. |
Aphid problem? |
Pretty flowers
The Botanic Gardens have a seriously good website with a very comprehensive collection of plant pics.
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The Great North Road enters Durham crossing the Wear at Elvet Bridge. The river is restricted to the central arches, unlike when George Balmer painted this view in 1830. |
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The eastern arches are comprehensively blocked by the Swan and Cygnets, a 19th century pub. There are many such examples of ancient bridges being partially blocked by later development. Perhaps the medieval builders knew a thing or two about flood levels which later planners have treated with complacency. |
Vehicles have their own newer bridges now, leaving the old stone bridges and the course ogf the Great North Road through the city centre to the pedestrians and musicians.
Framwelgate Bridge was built in the 15th century, replacing a 12th century bridge. It was widened by about 8 feet on the upstream side in the 19th century.
David Simpson has done a grand job of putting Durham's history on the net on the North East England History Pages
St Cuthbert's Well
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Situated a short way down the steep banks of the River
Wear near the Galilee Well, and accessible by a narrow path. The largest
stone surround of any holy well in the county. A slight change in slope
may be detected here - steep for sandstone, less steep for shale - the
spring emerges at the junction. It has been intermittent in flow since the
strata were breached by the new university library extension nearby, and
has been dry on every visit I have made since September 1985. A large
sandstone surround with a rounded head-height archway has been built over
the well. An inscription over the archway reads 'FONS: CUTHBERT' with a
date that could be interpreted either as 1600 or 1660.
The County Archaeologist, Peter Clack, told me that nothing is known of the well's history, and he doubts the antiquity of the well, suggesting it received its dedication from that of the nearby cathedral. It seems odd that so imposing a structure should have so little known about it. Certainly today, I encountered a surprising lack of knowledge and interest in the well, which is in need of some consolidation, and is unfortunately heavily defaced by graffiti. From Ancient, Healing and Holy Wells of County Durham by Laurence Hunt
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Finchale Priory is about four miles north of Durham on the west bank of the Wear, quite close to the A1 if you are a flying crow but a long way by car as you have to leave the motorway at the A690 junction, drive right into Durham and then out again. There are just ruins now of the 12th and 13th century hermitage of St. Godric and the Benedictine Priory that was built on the site. Its a pretty spot once you're past the caravan site.
Lincolnshire
©Biff Vernon 2002
