New
New
Year 10
AQA
The design of Durham Cathedral
I can explain how and why Durham Cathedral was constructed as it was.
New
New
Year 10
AQA
The design of Durham Cathedral
I can explain how and why Durham Cathedral was constructed as it was.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Durham Cathedral was built in a meander of the River Wear, on high ground, which provided natural protection.
- Durham Cathedral housed St Cuthbert's shrine.
- Durham Cathedral was built in the powerful Romanesque style.
- Durham Cathedral contains architectural innovations such as rib vaulting.
- Durham Cathedral was designed to separate the monks from the lay people.
Keywords
Shrine - a place for worship that is holy because of a connection with a holy person or object
Nave - the long central part of a church, often with aisles on both sides
Vaulting - arches that support a ceiling or room
Common misconception
Cathedrals are like museums and ordinary people can access all areas.
In fact, in medieval times ordinary people could not cross the screen which partitions the nave from the quire.
Rib vaulting experiment: Use blocks to build small models of rib vaults. Discuss how this innovation allowed for higher ceilings and more open spaces within the cathedral.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Complete the sentence: As , William St Calais could impose taxes to fund the raising of an army to help him control the rebellious north and secure the Scottish border.
Q2.
Complete the sentence: William I dealt with the rebellious north by enacting the...
Q3.
Who was imprisoned for their involvement in rebellion and replaced by William Walcher?
King Malcolm of Scotland
Robert Cumin
Earl Waltheof of Northumbria
Q4.
What did William I build next to the cathedral to provide protection for the Bishop of Durham?
shrine
monastery
nunnery
Q5.
Put the following events in chronological order.
Q6.
Who ordered the building of Durham Cathedral in 1093?
William I
William II
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which word describes a place for worship that is holy because of a connection with a holy person or object?
Q2.
Complete the sentence: Durham Cathedral was built in a meander of the , on high ground, which provided natural protection.
Q3.
Why was the style of Durham Cathedral known as Romanesque?
it was built by the Romans originally
it was built on the site of where the Romans first landed in Britain
its paintings were only of ancient Roman myths
Q4.
Put the features of arcades in order from top to bottom.
Q5.
What was the purpose of Durham Cathedral's stone-ribbed vaulting?
enabled a lower ceiling and to be held up over a narrow space
allowed the cathedral's height to appear to be reaching towards Hell
Q6.
What did strictly following the Benedictine order mean for the monks at Durham Cathedral?
as complete a joining as possible between religious life and secular life
Additional material
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