Timeline of Durham, England

A timeline of the history of Durham, a small northern city in England famed for its castle and cathedral.

735	Death of the Venerable Bede, a monk and church historian, at Jarrow in Northumbria.
793 AD	Viking raid on Lindisfarne, the original resting place of St. Cuthbert
995	Monks of St. Cuthbert's community settle on a hill surrounded by the River Wear, the site that would become the city of Durham. They construct a "White Church" made of wood to shelter the relics of Cuthbert. Aldhun, the Bishop of Chester le Street, becomes the first Bishop of Durham.
999	The wooden White Church is replaced with a sturdier stone one.
1006	Scots under the leadership of King Malcolm are massacred by North Easterners during an attack on Durham. The leader of the victorious army is the son-in-law of the Bishop of Durham.
1022	Relics of the Venerable Bede brought to Durham from Jarrow by Aelfred, a Durham sacrist and relic collector.
1027	Following a pilgrimage to Rome, King Canute makes a pilgrimage to Durham. He walks bare foot from Garmondsway, six miles south of the city, to the shrine of St Cuthbert. He also bestows land in County Durham to the monks at Durham.
1038	Durham defeats an attempted seige by King Duncan of Scotland.
1066	Battle of Hastings - William "the Conquerer" of Normandy becomes king of England.
Jan. 1069	Normans seize the city of Durham, but many Norman soldiers are killed in the city.
Dec. 1069	Bishop of Durham steals some treasures from the church and flees south.
1072	William the Conquerer orders the construction of Durham Castle to serve as a northern stronghold of the Normans, both against the rebellious local English and the Scots to the north.
1075	The Norman bishop of Durham is given the extensive political powers formerly held by the Earl, becoming the first of a long line of Prince-Bishops of Durham. They are entitled to raise taxes and mint coins, had supreme jurisdiction both civil and military, and for centuries held the most powerful position in the region.
1093	Foundation stone laid on Durham Cathedral.
1093-1133	Most of Durham Cathedral built: nave, quire and two transepts.
1104	St. Cuthbert's body laid to rest in Durham Cathedral. During the transfer of the body, it was discovered to be incorrupt and to have the "odor of sanctity." Modern scholars attribute the preservation to the salt crystals in the ground in which he was originally laid, but the extraordinary discovery added to the medieval belief in the saint's potency.
1128	Framwellgate Bridge is built.
1132	A mint is established near Durham Castle.
1175	Galilee Chapel (or Lady Chapel) added to the west end of Durham Cathedral.
1179	The city of Durham receives a charter of approval from the Pope in a papal bull.
1217-26	Two western towers added to cathedral.
1275	An indulgence issued by the Bishop of Durham releases those making offerings at the tomb of St. Cuthbert from 40 days penance. (On display as #51 in the cathedral's Treasury Museum.)
1312	The Scots under Robert the Bruce burn and plunder the outskirts of Durham in a raid which took them as far south as Hartlepool, a place closely associated with Robert's ancestors.
1371	Bishop's throne built.
1416	Outbreak of the plague in Durham.
1424	King James of Scotland, a prisoner in England, is given his freedom in exchange for English hostages held in Durham. The Treaty of Durham, lasting for seven years, is signed by the King.
1429	Lightning strikes the bell tower of Durham Cathedral, leading to a fire and 20 feet of the tower falling down.
1438	Durham Cathedral cloisters are built.
1448	King Henry IV makes a pilgrimage to the shrine of St Cuthbert in Durham.
1465-90	The ribbed stone vault of the cathedral's tower rebuilt.
1540	The Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII: Durham Cathedral monastery is dissolved along with many other northern monasteries.
1561	James Pilkington becomes the first Protestant Bishop of Durham. He removes and destroys many statues and other "idolatrous" works of art in the cathedral.
1590	Three Roman Catholic priests are executed at Durham under Queen Elizabeth I.
1597	Over 800 people die from the plague in Durham.
1603	King James VI of Scotland, who recently became James I King of England, visits Durham during his long journey south to claim the Crown of England. He is entertained in Durham Castle by the Bishop of Durham.
1617	King James I of England visits Durham on his way to Scotland.
1639	King Charles I stops in Durham on his way north to march against the Scottish Covenanters.
1640-41	Scottish Covenanters occupy Newcastle and Durham.
1646	Oliver Cromwell's Parliament abolishes the See of Durham and confiscates its revenues.
1649	Durham Castle is sold to
1650-51	After the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar, 3,000 Scottish prisoners are held in Durham Cathedral. They destroy much of the interior.
1660	The monarchy is reinstated. King Charles II restores the Bishop of Durham to his throne.
c.1850	Stained glass installed in the great west window of Durham Cathedral
1790	Lighting and paving instituted in Durham.
1827	During alterations to the eastern end of the cathedral the stone tomb of St Cuthbert was opened, revealing a 1,300 year-old oak coffin containing a complete skeleton swathed in vestments of linen and silk. Several relics are also discovered, including a small gold cross (the cross of St Cuthbert) and an ivory comb.
1832	The University of Durham is founded. It is the third oldest in the UK after Oxford and Cambridge.
1857	New Durham Railway Station opened.
1858	College of St. Hild established at Durham.
1877	Present organ of Durham Cathedral built by "Father" Willis.
1918	Medieval chapel of Our Lady of Bolton in Durham Cathedral is renamed Chapel of the Durham Light Infantry.
1947	Coal miners' memorial added to Durham Cathedral. Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, visits Durham.
1952	The 11th-century Norman Chapel in Durham Castle is reconsecrated as a place of worship.
1970	St Mary le Bow Church ceases to be an opperational church. Services are transferred to St Oswald's Church in Elvet.
1976	Traffic is banned in the city center.
1978	St Mary le Bow Church becomes Durham City's Heritage Centre; Durham Cathedral Treasury opens to the public.
1987	Durham Castle and Cathedral are declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Sources

Durham City Chronicle - North East England History Pages
A Short Guide to Durham Cathedral (pamphlet published by the cathedral)