DURHAM, CITY OF, is in the ward of Easington, 260 miles north from London. Its situation is particu larly striking and picturesque; indeed a more singular position for the capital of a county can hardly be ima gined. It is situated on a rocky eminence rising near the centre of the county, and almost surrounded by the river Wear, the banks of which here are beautifully and richly fringed with wood. The city descends in steep winding streets to its three bridges, which terminate in long suburbs. From all the neighbouring points of view, its appearance is grand and imposing, its public edifices displaying a great degree of magnificence; but when we enter it, much of the grandeur with which it strikes us at a distance is lost; for in general the houses are old, inconvenient, and dirty, and the streets narrow, wind ing, steep, and extremely incommodious. The majestic cathedral and stately castle stand on a high eh cular hill ; these, with the streets called the Baileys, ate included within the ancient city walls. The situation of the cathe dral adds much to its grandeur. The base of the rocks which support its west end, are washed by the Wear ; and from the square, called the Palace Green, by which it i'§"generally approached, the whole of its north front is at once beheld. It was begun to be built in the year 1093. The tower was erected between the years 1233 and 1258 No material a•ditions were made to it since, till the year 1776 ; at that period great improvements were begun, which are still going- on. 'Fite cathedral is interesting to architects, as affording " a most instruc tive series of examples, illustrating the gradual change of style which took place during the reigns of the three first Henries, till by degrees the pointed had completely superseded the semicircular arch ; and the heavy clusters of the Norman pillars were polished into the light shafts of the early English." There are several ancient monu ments in it; and those of the venerable Bede, Lord Ne ville, and Bishop Hatfield, are pi‘rticularly deserving of notice. The Episcopal throne, chapel of 9 altars, library, &c. are also worthy of attention. On the north of the cathedral, there is a large open area, called the Palace Green, on which the castle stands; it is the residence of the Bishop whenever he visits Durham. The views from its upper apartments are singularly commanding, taking in the whole of the city, and the windings of the Wear through a fine county to a considerable distance. It is not known at what period it was built, but probably before the reign of William the Conqueror. The Keep or Tower is the most ancient part ; it is an irregular oc tagon. At present it is a mere shell, but appears ori ginally to have contained four stories besides the vaults: the perpendicular height of the mount on which it stands is 44 feet ; round it three pleasant terraces have been formed, each 10 feet wide, and communicating with one another. As the buildings which compose the castle
were erected at different periods, there is no uniformity of taste or style in them. Out of its north gateway the prison is formed, the anterior accommodations of which have been lately much improved. There are three bridges over the Wear, one of which, called the Bank's Bridge, is rather an elegant structure. Besides these there are six parish churches, exchequer, law courts, college, guildhall, infirmary, &c. From the Palace Green is an avenue that leads to the public walks on the banks of the river ; these were made and are kept in re pair by the dean and chapter : they accompany the wind ing of the stream, and command some beautiful views of the city and cathedral. On the one hand, the. banks are rocky and abrupt, while on the other they slope gently to the river, covered with wood. ." The combination here of trees and buildings, water and rock, home sylvan scenery, and fine distances, is at once beautiful and grand." Durham scti,ls teen members to parliament. The •I of etre non is % este d in the en! ',oration and freemen, ho at present amount to about 0 : the city is cd b% a may or, tee el% e aldermen, tw Lolly -four common eouncilmen, tecordcr, tow n-( k, ke. It is deemed one of the best bishoprics in Engl Ind; and the lie ings in the b:shop's gilt, the I IC hest. FL sent COCIOIA uncut for a deanety w as cst.tblishcd by 11 entry VI II. with twelve pi Lend:elk s, tee el% e minor canons, Sec. During the protectorate of Ohs er Cromwell, an attempt was made to establish an university here, but it was suppressed at the restoration, and the buildings, 'a Rich arc still called the college, w c re gi% en to the dean.
The manufactures consist of woollen goods, such as shallows, tanimit s, carpets, kc. The neighbourhood of the city is famous fur large crops of mustard, which pay rc markably w ell, Durham mustard being in great request all oecr the kingdom. At the end of March there is a fair, which lasts for ti rec days, principally for cattle, sheep, and horses; there arc also fairs on Whit-Tuesday, and on the 15th of September. S.,turday is the market day. The population in 1811 was 6763. Sec Ilutchin's History of Durl.arn; Warner's .Vorthern 7'our; Granger's .1ccount cf the .1griculture of Durham; Bailey's ?gri culture of Durham; Marshall's Review of the ?gricul tura' Reports from the .Vorthern Department of England; and Beauties of .England and Trales, vol. v. (w. s.) 1)12 R10, a genus of plants of the class Polyadelphia, and order Polyandria. See BOTANY, p. 28 1.