The second of two programmes produced by Tyne Tees Television Outside Broadcast Productions and presented by Canadian actor Robert Beatty on the development of Christianity in the Northeast. In this programme Robert travels to the city of Durham to learn about its connections to St Cuthbert. Speaking with several academic and clergy Robert learns about the history and development of both Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, He also gets to speak with several students from Durham University...

The second of two programmes produced by Tyne Tees Television Outside Broadcast Productions and presented by Canadian actor Robert Beatty on the development of Christianity in the Northeast. In this programme Robert travels to the city of Durham to learn about its connections to St Cuthbert. Speaking with several academic and clergy Robert learns about the history and development of both Durham Cathedral and Durham Castle, He also gets to speak with several students from Durham University about what they are studying and to learn more about the Durham Union Society. The film also features important events that take place in the city including the annual Durham Miners’ Gala and the Durham Regatta which features rowing taking place on the River Wear. Title: Tyne Tees Television presents Over the opening credit a view of Durham Cathedral. Title: The Romance of Durham Coming to stand beside a stone wall presenter Robert Beatty looking out across the River Wear at Durham Castle before walking away. Credit: Introduced by Robert Beatty Over views of Durham Cathedral dominating the skyline about the Wear, Robert talks in voiceover about its majestic setting and it being the heart of the city. Coming to stand beside the wall again Robert looks across at the cathedral. In the Tyne Tees Television studios on City Road in Newcastle, Robert begins the programme by reminding the views of the programme he made the year previous ‘The Magic of Lindisfarne’ and the story of St Cuthbert. He explains that this programme will look at the founding and development of Durham as a city as another chapter in that story. Robert begins his journey to Durham in its Market Place where a policeman sits in a kiosk directing traffic on the junctions of Silver and Sadler Street’s and Claypath with the help of a CCTV monitor. John walks along Market Place admiring the Marquess of Londonderry Statue before crossing the road and making his way along Sadler Street. He stops outside 73 Sadler Street and heads down its back alley to look around and talk about the development of Durham Mustard which was made there. Standing outside the entrance to Durham Prison on Old Elvet Robert looks up and reads HM Prison noticeboard of rules. A view of Durham Assizes, now Durham Crown Court, next door changes to Robert standing on Sadler Street looking down Drury Lane which leads to the river. As he talks about a theatre that once stood on the site, he heads down the path to the banks of the Wear where a rowing boat makes its way towards nearby Elvet Bridge. From another position on the River Wear Prebends Bridge in the distance and the towers of Durham Cathedral dominating the skyline. From a rooftop Durham Cathedral again with cars parked along the far side of Palace Green below. Robert walks at speed across the green towards the cathedral coming to stop and looking up at the Central Tower. Walking on Robert enters the cathedral via the Great North Door. Over a montage of still images taken inside the cathedral featuring the great nave and stained-glass Rose Window Robert talks about how this majestic building makes him feel and how much he admires the craftmanship who built the cathedral. The door leading from the Cloisters into the Monk’s Dormitory changes to Robert appearing in The Loft inside the dormitory carrying a microphone and speaking with Arch Deacon Charles Stranks about how much this cathedral owes to St Cuthbert. After speaking about the journey of St Cuthbert from Lindisfarne to Durham Arch Deacon Stranks shows Robert some of the relics found inside St Cuthbert's coffin including his portable altar and Pectoral or Bishops Cross along with the remains of the coffin itself. He also shows Robert a ‘gloriously embroidered’ stole or liturgical vestment presented as a gift to St Cuthbert's shrine by King Athelstan and is believed to be the largest remaining pieces of Anglo-Saxon embroidery in the world. A montage of The Shrine of St Cuthbert changes to the cathedral’s library and museum also inside the Monks Dormitory where Robert and the Arch Deacon chat about the timber roof. Shaking hands and thanking him for his time, Robert introduces a second guest Rosemary Cramp who is Lecturer in Anglo-Saxon Antiquity and Archaeology at Durham University. As the two wonder around the room she points out some of the many Anglo-Saxon stone crosses, carving and hogbacks on display. She also shows Robert several pages from a reproduction book containing examples of early manuscripts held by the library including one produced the Venerable Bede of Jarrow. Putting down the microphone Robert follows Rosemary from the library into the Galilee Chapel to see Bede’s Tomb. After Rosemary reads for Robert the Latin inscription on the tomb, Robert walks over to a copy of the New English Bible resting on a stand and makes a connection between the new and this version of the Bible and the old with Bede being the 1st English Biblical scholar. Rosemary them takes Robert over to look at restoration work that was being carried out on the fresco and early Medieval wall paintings in the chapel. Again, she provides details on what they represent. Explaining that he would like to see the Sanctuary Knocker which is on the North Door of the cathedral, Robert and Rosemary leave the Galilee Chapel. Following a montage of still images of the knocker a dramatic reconstruction of a Medieval fugitive claiming sanctuary from an angry mob. Been given entrance to the cathedral by a monk, played by Maxwell Deas who would become Head of Religious Programming at Tyne Tees Television, who explain to both the fugitive and viewer details about how sanctuary worked. Returning to Robert Beatty and Rosemary Cramp now standing outside the cathedral near to the North Door and Sanctuary Knocker they begin talking about the cathedral architecture, development and features. Several still images of different sides of the cathedral are shown to help illustrate points being made. Thanking Rosemary for her time Robert turns to the camera and provides details on the annual Durham Miners’ Gala which takes place in the city. As large crowds, some carrying banners, parade past the Royal County Hotel on Old Elvet on their way to Durham Racecourse brass bands play, young people dance in the street and from the balcony of the hotel Labour politician Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Braddock waves at the crowd. As part of the parade make it way onto the racecourse a policeman on horseback holds back the crowds as the parade continues to pass Royal County Hotel where Hugh Gaitskell, leader of the Labour Party, claps and smiles at the parade below. The sequence comes to an end with the band of the 3rd United States Airforce Band parading past and newspaper and rubbish on the now empty racecourse. Returning briefly to the Tyne Tees studio with Robert stands in front of an image of Durham Castle, the programme returns to him and Rosemary Cramp walking through the entranceway of Durham Castle of Palace Green into the forecourt. Robert asking about the links between the castle and the cathedral with details being provided by Rosemary. As Robert and Rosemary head into the castle itself the programme changes to feature a special ceremony taking place at exactly 10.15am where Senior Judges leaving their apartments at the castle and travel across the city to the Assizes Courts next to Durham Prison. Coming out slowly into the forecourt first is The High Sheriff of Durham Sir Richard Boyd-Stone followed behind by Her Majesties Judges Mr Justice Lloyd-Jacob and Senior Judge Mr Justice Elwis who step into a waiting car and are driven away by police escort. A montage of still images featuring both the exterior and interior of the apartments with Rosemary Cramp providing details of its features including that of the 16th century Flemish tapestries and the decorative Norman archway leading from the apartment into the Gallery. Now standing in the kitchens at Durham Castle, Rosemary points out some of the rooms features including a brick chimney containing what is believed to be the oldest bricks in Durham. Heading out of the kitchen they stand at the base of the Black Staircase with Rosemary talking about the history of this Jacobian staircase with original panels. Over views of the recently restored 11th-century Norman Chapel Rosemary explains that it is believed to the most important early Norman architectural monuments in the county and has been restored as a memorial to the cadets of Durham University who lost their lives during World War Two. Over still images of a second chapel in the castle, the 16th century Tunstall Chapel Rosemary again provide details on some if its features including the woodwork from the stalls being brought to Durham from Bishop Auckland. Coming back outside into the castle forecourt Robert thanks Rosemary for her guided tour of both the cathedral and castle. They shake hands before walking back towards Palace Green together. Returning again to the Tyne Tees studio Robert stands in front of an image of Palace Green Library talking about how Durham University is a thriving seat of learning. He takes from his pocket a copy of the menu from the beginning of term dinner for students in 1831 before stating that he was fortunate enough to have recently spoken to some of the universities present students. Standing in front of the Pemberton Building on Palace Green, the home of the Durham Union Society, Robert speaks with David Parsons from the union about what it does for the university. He explains it is an essential club for the male members of the university colleges and a place where members can come together. On being asked about allowing women into the union David is unsure believing women don’t have the same feeling of togetherness as men. On being asked what he is studying he explains he is studying archaeology and is conducting research into Saxon churches. Standing nearby a group of students to whom Robert speaks. The first identifies herself as Helen Valentine from Shincliffe near Durham who has just finished her Education Diploma. Next Joan Willis from Gateshead who is in residence at St Mary’s College where she has just finished her second year in Chemistry and next to her Graham Marshall from Birmingham who is doing research in music. He explains to Robert that he is here not just because of the excellent music department, but to get away from the distractions of home. Walking onto Palace Green Robert moves onto talk about how Durham is also proud of its public school. Over a montage of both still and moving images Robert arrives at Durham School on Quarryheads Lane providing details on its history and development. As he continues to talk pupils come out of school buildings at the end of lessons while other play cricket on the school’s sports field. In a large marquee proud parents applaud as pupils receive academic prizes while on the River Wear the school rowing team, one of the strongest school teams in the country, place their boat into the water at the start of a practice session. As a small boy wearing a boater hat with a Durham Regatta label in it watches as a group of rows places their boat into the River Wear with Robert explains how the regatta is a highlight of the Durham social calendar. As a race gets underway a large crowd watches from the riverbank as the rower’s speed past. On the last evening of the regatta a fireworks display with a sign lit up with fireworks reading ‘Success to Durham Regatta.’ Returning to the Tyne Tees studio Robert talks about his fascination with Durham with its links to the past, but also looks forward to its future by showcasing a series of images and plans for new buildings being built around the city such as the new science wing of St Mary’s College at Durham University and a new Durham County Hall at Aykley Heads. Also, in the studio a large model showing Durham of the future with Robert using a stick to point out two new bridges and a bypass around the city centre that will help ease traffic congestion. Bringing the programme to an end Robert talks about the wonderful memories he found in the city and about discovering the ‘Romance of Durham.’ The programme ends with Robert standing beside the Sanctuary Knocker outside Durham Cathedral and how it and the cathedral still provides a sanctuary from the modern world. Title: Those appearing in The Romance of Durham with Robert Beatty were Rosemary Cramp M.A., Blit, F.S.A Lecturer in Anglo-Saxon Antiquities and Archaeology at Durham University. The Venerable C.J. Stranks, M.A., M.Lit Archdean of Auckland, Maxwell Deas, Michael Cooper, the students of Durham University Tyne Tees Television wish to acknowledge the co-operation received from the following in the preparation of this programme: The Dean and Chapter of Durham The Master of University College Durham The Headmaster of Durham School Filmed sequences by the Tyne Tees Television Film Unit Credit: Directed by Michael Dunk Written by Dan Douglas Studio setting by Eric Briers Produced by Raymond Joss and Leslie Barrett End title: A Tyne Tees Television Outside Broadcast Production