Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

A unique opportunity to join a YPS day visit to Durham to see stunning artefacts from Anglo-Saxon England

Thursday 15 August, £49

This Summer, between July and September only, the Lindisfarne Gospels and St Cuthbert Gospel are being displayed in  the College Green library of Durham University (from their British Library home in London), alongside mediaeval manuscripts and artefacts from national collections and those from Durham University and Durham Cathedral, to create one of the most significant exhibitions of mediaeval life. The Lindisfarne Gospels Durham exhibition takes visitors on a journey of exploration, learning how and why this masterpiece was created, its influence on Medieval Europe and how artistic traditions from Britain and the Mediterranean mainland came together in North East England. On show in the Library, which has been completely redesigned and refurbished for this event, will be fabulous artefacts wrought from precious metals and minerals including gold, amber and silver and stone sculpture alongside medieval manuscripts including the St Cuthbert Gospel and the Durham Gospels. YPS has reserved one of the allocated timed slots in which to visit this unique exhibition.

Our coach will leave York Memorial Gardens, Leeman Road at 8.00 a.m., and after a brief stop en route to purchase coffee, etc, will drop us off in Durham at the foot of the peninsula mound on which Durham’s main historic precinct is situated. From there it is a short uphill walk, including some steps, to the central College Green, as coaches are not allowed into the central area. There will then be some free time before we go for our timed visit of the Lindisfarne Gospels exhibition which will last about an hour.

It will be followed by a pleasant 2 course buffet lunch with coffee at nearby atmospheric St Chad’s College (Durham’s smallest). After lunch, there will be some more free time. Suggestions for using the free time periods are – take a riverside walk around the peninsula or into the town – or visit the Durham Heritage Centre and Museum (£1.50 adm.) alongside the lunch place –  or visit the adjacent Cathedral and shrine of St Cuthbert where amongst other things there is a temporary exhibition about St Cuthbert and the Gospels (Free adm. Voluntary donation of £5 suggested by Cathedral). We then re-join our coach for the short journey to Crook Hall (a mixture of Mediaeval, Jacobean & Georgian building) & Gardens for a self-guided visit and cream tea before we set off back to York, where we hope to arrive about 7.00 pm.

If you would like to take part in this visit please complete and return the form below to the Lodge along with your cheque for £49. The tour price includes transport, admission, and refreshment charges as stipulated, and gratuities.

Alan Owen

To:-   Alan Owen,  Yorkshire Philosophical Society, The Lodge, Museum Gardens, York YO1  7DR

Please reserve   ……………………place(s) for me on this “Medieval Magic” tour to Durham.

A cheque for £  ……..  is enclosed , made out to Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Name   ………………………………………………. Tel. No.  ……………………….…………

Address  ……………………………………………..            Email  …………………………………….

……………………………………………….

……………………………………………….             Postcode  ……………………………….

N.B.   Confirmation will be by email unless a S.A.E is enclosed with your application