Martin M. Miles' photos

Durham has its origins in 995, when monks from Lindisfarne, at that time on the run from the Vikings for over 100 years, chose this place as the final resting place for the mortal remains of St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne and founded a church. Cuthbert's grave attracted many pilgrims and over time a town developed around the church. In 1006 and 1038, this settlement was unsuccessfully attacked by Scots. The hilltop location of the town proved to be easy to defend. There was a predecessor building from Anglo-Saxon times. The foundation stone of the cathedral was laid under the first bishop, William of St Calais, in 1093. With the monastery connected to it and its position on a difficult-to-attack hill in a bend of the River Wear, the complex served as Northumbria's bulwark against the Scots. The early Gothic west towers were completed in 1220. The west façade was given a large front window. A document from 1235 describes the dangerous condition of the Romanesque vaults. The Romanesque choir end was demolished and replaced by the Chapel of the Nine Altars in 1242-1280.

St Laurence's, located in the small hamlet of Hallgarth, dates from around 1100.

The settlement is on of several named Auckland. As this one was in the Bishop of Durham's land, gaining the 'bishop' element to differentiate it from the other settlements. The first church was built on this site, around 650. By 1100AD, a new church was constructed to house canons expelled from Durham, when the latter was made monastic. The present church was built in the Early Engish Styles in 1274 as a Collegiate Church. church tower was added in the 15th century. The structure is large – 47 meters long and 25.5 meters wide, with the tower reaching 25.5 meters in height.

This church is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England. The church was founded about 670/675, when the area was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. Much of the stone was taken from the nearby Roman fort at Vinovia (now Binchester). Later the eaves were raised. The nave now has a crow-stepped gable at each end. Some simple Gothic windows were inserted in the 13th century and the south porch was built in the 14th century. In the 19th century more windows were inserted and a new door was installed in the porch. But the majority of the windows, small and set high in the walls, are original Anglo-Saxon work. The church is essentially little changed from when it was built. The church seated only 65 people, and in the 19th century Escomb's population outgrew it. In 1863 a new parish church, St John's, was completed. Thereafter the Anglo-Saxon church quickly fell into disrepair. By 1867 it had lost part of its roof. It was restored in 1875–80. By 1904 the roof was again in poor condition. In the 1920s the parish again raised money to restore it. In 1960 the parish agreed to refurbish the building. The plan was now for electric lighting and heating to be installed. In 1967 restoration of the Anglo-Saxon church was begun, in 1969 it reverted to being the parish church again. A complex carving found here

This church is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England. The church was founded about 670/675, when the area was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. Much of the stone was taken from the nearby Roman fort at Vinovia (now Binchester). Later the eaves were raised. The nave now has a crow-stepped gable at each end. Some simple Gothic windows were inserted in the 13th century and the south porch was built in the 14th century. In the 19th century more windows were inserted and a new door was installed in the porch. But the majority of the windows, small and set high in the walls, are original Anglo-Saxon work. The church is essentially little changed from when it was built. The church seated only 65 people, and in the 19th century Escomb's population outgrew it. In 1863 a new parish church, St John's, was completed. Thereafter the Anglo-Saxon church quickly fell into disrepair. By 1867 it had lost part of its roof. It was restored in 1875–80. By 1904 the roof was again in poor condition. In the 1920s the parish again raised money to restore it. In 1960 the parish agreed to refurbish the building. The plan was now for electric lighting and heating to be installed. In 1967 restoration of the Anglo-Saxon church was begun, in 1969 it reverted to being the parish church again. This cross was probably carved in the early times of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England, as the cross is even older than thius church.

This church is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England. The church was founded about 670/675, when the area was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. Much of the stone was taken from the nearby Roman fort at Vinovia (now Binchester). Later the eaves were raised. The nave now has a crow-stepped gable at each end. Some simple Gothic windows were inserted in the 13th century and the south porch was built in the 14th century. In the 19th century more windows were inserted and a new door was installed in the porch. But the majority of the windows, small and set high in the walls, are original Anglo-Saxon work. The church is essentially little changed from when it was built. The church seated only 65 people, and in the 19th century Escomb's population outgrew it. In 1863 a new parish church, St John's, was completed. Thereafter the Anglo-Saxon church quickly fell into disrepair. By 1867 it had lost part of its roof. It was restored in 1875–80. By 1904 the roof was again in poor condition. In the 1920s the parish again raised money to restore it. In 1960 the parish agreed to refurbish the building. The plan was now for electric lighting and heating to be installed. In 1967 restoration of the Anglo-Saxon church was begun, in 1969 it reverted to being the parish church again.

This church is one of the oldest Anglo-Saxon churches in England. The church was founded about 670/675, when the area was part of the Anglian Kingdom of Northumbria. Much of the stone was taken from the nearby Roman fort at Vinovia (now Binchester). Later the eaves were raised. The nave now has a crow-stepped gable at each end. Some simple Gothic windows were inserted in the 13th century and the south porch was built in the 14th century. In the 19th century more windows were inserted and a new door was installed in the porch. But the majority of the windows, small and set high in the walls, are original Anglo-Saxon work. The church is essentially little changed from when it was built. The church seated only 65 people, and in the 19th century Escomb's population outgrew it. In 1863 a new parish church, St John's, was completed. Thereafter the Anglo-Saxon church quickly fell into disrepair. By 1867 it had lost part of its roof. It was restored in 1875–80. By 1904 the roof was again in poor condition. In the 1920s the parish again raised money to restore it. In 1960 the parish agreed to refurbish the building. The plan was now for electric lighting and heating to be installed. In 1967 restoration of the Anglo-Saxon church was begun, in 1969 it reverted to being the parish church again.

Designed by the cinema specialist Percy L Browne, the Ritz had seats for 1,636 patrons and first opened its doors in 1939. The last film show at The Ritz was in 1962. The building soon reopened as a bingo hall – which eventually closed in 2011. By now it is converted into a pub run by the Wetherspoon group.

The ruins of Tynemoth Priory towers on the cliff overlooking beach and sea. The priory was founded at the beginning of the 7th century, probably by Edwin of Northumbria. In 651, Oswine, King of Deira, was murdered and his body was brought to Tynemouth for burial. He was honoured as a saint soon after his death and his tomb became a place of pilgrimage. In 800, the Danes plundered the priory. The monks then strengthened the fortifications sufficiently to repel another attack by the Danes in 832. In 865, however, the church and monastery were destroyed in another attack by the Danes. The priory was again plundered by the Danes in 870 and finally completely destroyed in 875. Toste Godwinson made Tynemouth his fortress in the reign of Edward the Confessor. At that time, the priory had already been abandoned and the grave of St Oswin had been forgotten. According to legend, St Oswin appeared to a hermit, who was living there. The saint showed him where his body lay and the grave was rediscovered in 1065.

Tynemouth has lovely, sandy beaches and attacts tourists since the 19th century.

St Peter founded in AD 675 (prev upload) became a double monastery with the foundation of St Paul a decade later. Jarrow soon became a unique centre for the production of manuscripts. Among other things, the oldest surviving complete Vulgate Bible (Codex Amiatinus) and other illuminated biblical, liturgical and theological manuscripts were produced. Beda Venerabilis wrote his English Ecclesiastical History here around 731 Both monasteries were sacked by Viking raiders and in the 9th century the abbey was abandoned. After the Norman Conquest of England there was a brief attempt to revive it. Early in the 14th century the two houses were refounded as cells of Durham Priory. In 1536 they were surrendered to the Crown and dissolved. Since the dissolution the two abbey churches have survived as the parish churches of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow. The conventual buildings fell into ruin.

St Peter founded in AD 675 (prev upload) became a double monastery with the foundation of St Paul a decade later. Jarrow soon became a unique centre for the production of manuscripts. Among other things, the oldest surviving complete Vulgate Bible (Codex Amiatinus) and other illuminated biblical, liturgical and theological manuscripts were produced. Beda Venerabilis wrote his English Ecclesiastical History here around 731 Both monasteries were sacked by Viking raiders and in the 9th century the abbey was abandoned. After the Norman Conquest of England there was a brief attempt to revive it. Early in the 14th century the two houses were refounded as cells of Durham Priory. In 1536 they were surrendered to the Crown and dissolved. Since the dissolution the two abbey churches have survived as the parish churches of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow. The conventual buildings fell into ruin.

St Peter founded in AD 675 (prev upload) became a double monastery with the foundation of St Paul a decade later. Jarrow soon became a unique centre for the production of manuscripts. Among other things, the oldest surviving complete Vulgate Bible (Codex Amiatinus) and other illuminated biblical, liturgical and theological manuscripts were produced. Beda Venerabilis wrote his English Ecclesiastical History here around 731 Both monasteries were sacked by Viking raiders and in the 9th century the abbey was abandoned. After the Norman Conquest of England there was a brief attempt to revive it. Early in the 14th century the two houses were refounded as cells of Durham Priory. In 1536 they were surrendered to the Crown and dissolved. Since the dissolution the two abbey churches have survived as the parish churches of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow. The conventual buildings fell into ruin.

St Peter founded in AD 675 (prev upload) became a double monastery with the foundation of St Paul a decade later. Jarrow soon became a unique centre for the production of manuscripts. Among other things, the oldest surviving complete Vulgate Bible (Codex Amiatinus) and other illuminated biblical, liturgical and theological manuscripts were produced. Beda Venerabilis wrote his English Ecclesiastical History here around 731 Both monasteries were sacked by Viking raiders and in the 9th century the abbey was abandoned. After the Norman Conquest of England there was a brief attempt to revive it. Early in the 14th century the two houses were refounded as cells of Durham Priory. In 1536 they were surrendered to the Crown and dissolved. Since the dissolution the two abbey churches have survived as the parish churches of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow. The conventual buildings fell into ruin.

In 674 a monastery was founded in Monkwearmouth by King Egfrid of Northumbria. It was one of the two churches of the Benedictine double monastery of Monkwearmouth–Jarrow Abbey. Benedict Biscop became the first abbot.The original church on the site was built at the behest of Benedict Biscop in 674–75. Bede Venerabilis 673/735) wrote that Benedict (who travelled to Rome six times!) brought stonemasons and glassworkers from Gaul to build the church, as these crafts were not yet established in Anglo-Saxon England. Of Benedict's building only the west wall and porch survive. The ground floor of the porch is barrel vaulted. Its outer arch, at the west end of the porch, is decorated with stone reliefs. By about 700 the porch had been enlarged by the addition of a second storey and north and south porticus, forming a westwork. By the end of the 10th century further storeys had been added to the porch, raising its height to form the present west tower. The rest of the church is much later. The north aisle was first built in the 13th century. A five-light east window was inserted in the chancel in the 14th century.

Newcastle (officially Newcastle upon Tyne) developed around a Roman settlement called Pons Aelius. Later, being part of the kingdom of Northumbria, it was known as Monkchester. Conflicts with the Danes in 876 left the settlements along the River Tyne in ruins. Robert Curthose, oldest son of William the Conqueror, erected a wooden castle there in the year 1080 since then the town was known as New Castle. The wooden structure was replaced by a stone castle in 1087. After a rebellion against the Normans in 1088, the town was all but destroyed by Odo of Bayeux.Throughout the Middle Ages, Newcastle was England's northern fortress. The Vampire Rabbit is a mysterious creature that has stood over the ornate back door of the historic building, opposite the rear of St Nicholas Cathedral, since 1901, when the building was constructed.

Newcastle (officially Newcastle upon Tyne) developed around a Roman settlement called Pons Aelius. Later, being part of the kingdom of Northumbria, it was known as Monkchester. Conflicts with the Danes in 876 left the settlements along the River Tyne in ruins. Robert Curthose, oldest son of William the Conqueror, erected a wooden castle there in the year 1080 since then the town was known as New Castle. The wooden structure was replaced by a stone castle in 1087. After a rebellion against the Normans in 1088, the town was all but destroyed by Odo of Bayeux.Throughout the Middle Ages, Newcastle was England's northern fortress. Tyne Theatre & Opera House was converted into a cinema in 1919 under the name of Stoll Picture Theatre. Stoll Pictures, founded in 1918, was a British film production and distribution company of the silent era. During the early to mid-1920s it was the largest film company in Britain and one of the biggest in Europe.