County Durham

Approximate Population: 42,939

Situated thirteen miles southwest of Sunderland is the historical county town of Durham, within the City of Durham in County Durham in the north east of England. The river Wear flows through the city enclosing the centre on three sides, creating what is known as the Durham Peninsula.

It is thought to have been settled around 2000BC and was named for its steep, hilly embankments, “Dun-holm” is an early English term meaning “hill island”. It is possible to trace the origins of the present city back to 995 AD when a group of monks from Lindisfarne chose the strategic high place and prominent position to settle with the body of St.Cuthbert, whose remains are still contained within the present cathedral, built in 1093, along with those of the Venerable Bede.

Facing the cathedral, which dominates the city, Durham Castle was built by the Normans from 1071 on the return of William the Conqueror from his campaigns in Scotland. The two buildings are jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the original six in the United Kingdom. The castle has been home to University College, the first college of Duham University, since 1837. The steep, densely wooded riverbanks add to the picturesque beauty of the city and to the west of the city lies another river, the Browney, which joins the Wear to the south. In total, there are 630 listed buildings within the city, 569 of which are within the central conservation area.

Nursing Homes near Durham

County Durham

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