Lindisfarne Gospels

Thursday : Lingering look at windows, week 25
A rainy day on Durham Cathedral roof looking down on the Castle

A rainy day on Durham Cathedral roof, looking down on the Castle.

Maybe not quite window in the conventional sense, but I could, and did, look through it.  Some of you wandered Durham’s riverbanks with me earlier this week, and I make no apologies for taking you back again today.

It’s quite a special week for Durham because the Lindisfarne Gospels have been returned, for a short while, to their rightful home in the north east.  Created 1,300 years ago, in honour of St. Cuthbert, they are on loan from the British Library and will be on display until 30th September.  Palace Green, in front of the Cathedral, is a deservedly beautiful location.  Ticket sales are booming.  The link above will show you why.   Meantime, a few more Durham windows.

The University Library is the location for the Lindisfarne Gospels.
While you’re in Durham, book the Castle tour- it really is fabulous!
Looking out into the castle courtyard.
The stained glass window in the castle chapel.
The lovely windows and cloisters of Durham Cathedral
More “windows” on the Cathedral roof.
The Dun Cow. And thereby hangs a tale..
The Masonic Hall windows
With fabulous detail.
The buildings in the city exude character
And finally, (for Lorna at Tearoom Delights) a nice pot of tea.

How lucky are the students at Durham University?  They get to use the castle as “digs” and dine in the fabulous Great Hall.  Taking photos isn’t allowed but I would suggest you take the tour if you’re in Durham to see the Gospels.  It’s bookable in the same building.  My post Discovering Durham will give you a lot more information.

Next week I shall be gazing through some real windows in the Algarve, so won’t be taking part in this challenge.  But I expect I’ll have a few shots to bring back.

Off now to check out the other entries at Lingering Visions.  Have you a few windows you’d like to share?  Dawn will be delighted.

Celebrating light with Durham
The Waterfall

The Waterfall

When a city you know and love hosts an international event you just have to be there.  Never mind if the result is a black eye.  It’s called suffering for your art?

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral and the weir

In late Autumn’s fading light we wandered along the riverbank awaiting the moment of revelation.  So many times we had strolled these ancient cobbled streets but this evening something strange was in the air.

Flying man

Flying man

He and his many friends hovered above us, saying little but seeing much.  Slowly the light faded, the sense of anticipation building.

Cathedral spires

Cathedral spires

Durham County Council had worked overtime to provide a festival guide with a route map around the 35 installations.  As 6.30 approached we joined the shuffling crowds on Palace Green to await a spectacle that would stay with us forever.  The street lights dimmed and we collectively held our breath.

Flushed red

The Cathedral face flushed with red

Music crashed into the hush and a flood of red illuminated the front portal of the Cathedral.  Wave upon wave of images followed, their theme the Lindisfarne Gospels.

The Gospels So hard to capture, without specialist equipment, the drama unrolling before us.  “Crown of light” its formal title, had been recalled by popular demand from the previous Lumiere Festival in 2009 and it was very easy to see why.  I cannot begin to do it justice here but maybe you can gain some appreciation from www.lumieredurham.co.uk

When silence descended again it was time to set off on a voyage of discovery.  The street lights remained off to maximise the effects, which made negotiating the riverbank a little tricky.  But the views were spectacular.

The snow dome

The snow dome

One of our favourites had to be “I love Durham” in the Market Place.  The Marquess of Londonderry statue was captive inside an enormous snow dome, the like of which I have never seen.  I couldn’t conceive how such a thing was possible and the magic of the whirling snow flakes enthralled the crowd.

So much more was there to see.  We lingered beneath the towering illuminated viaduct as trains slipped across, seeming not to wish to disturb the soundtrack to the patterns created on the side wall of the North Rd Methodist Church.  Up the steps to the Gala Theatre, head swivelling to take it all in.

And then disaster befell.  My eye was caught by “60 second Cathedral”, a Polish projection of skydivers on the Claypath Library.  Triumphantly I gestured to my partner, before tumbling head over heels over a concrete block.

Thank you to the people who scrambled to put me back together again.  Michael looked more dazed than I felt!  I was just gratefull that my fall had come at the end of our  tour and we could go home with the memories intact.