[Durham Cathedral, west elevation]

Description

Finely engraved very large elephant folio architectural print of part of Durham Cathedral. The cathedral was designed and built under William de St-Calais who in 1080 was appointed as the first Prince-Bishop by King William the Conqueror. In 1083 he founded the Benedictine Priory of St. Cuthbert at Durham and having ejected the secular canons who had been in charge of the church and shrine of St Cuthbert there, replaced them with monks from the monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow. Bishop William of St. Calais demolished the old Saxon church, and on 11 August 1093, together with Prior Turgot of Durham (Aldwin’s successor), he laid the foundation stone of the great new cathedral.

From John Carter, Some Account of the Abbey Church of Bath, illustrative of the Plans, Elevations, and Sections, of that Building, [Society of Antiquaries, London, 1798]