Our heritage
From prehistoric settlement to collegiate life, the heritage of St John’s is woven into the history of the Durham peninsula.
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Durham Castle and Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site has been a place of learning, worship and community for over 1,000 years.
Inscribed by UNESCO in 1986 for its outstanding universal value, the site is stewarded today by Durham Cathedral, Durham University, Durham County Council and St John’s College.
Did you know?
Alice Liddell, the inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, was a regular visitor to Bowes House — now part of St John’s College — where her great-great-grandmother once lived.
Under the Library
In 2017, archaeologists working on the site of the new library at St John’s uncovered a wide range of artefacts dating from prehistory to the present day, including animal bones, pottery and metalwork.
The discoveries were significant, pushing back evidence of human occupation on the Durham peninsula by around 7,000 years. Archaeologists now know that people were living here during the Mesolithic period, that there was an Iron Age farmstead on the site, and that the peninsula was occupied long before the arrival of the Community of St Cuthbert.
This exhibition was produced by the Durham Castle and Cathedral UNESCO World Heritage Site Youth Ambassadors (YAMs), a group of young people aged 12–24 who work to open up the World Heritage Site to wider audiences through projects, events and exhibitions such as this one.
Located on the outer bailey of the historic castle, the site of St John’s College has been a meeting place where people have exchanged knowledge and ideas for centuries. The College continues this tradition and curates the site with love and care, ensuring that it is conserved and enhanced for future generations.
Dr Anne Allen, World Heritage Site Manager
Sharing our heritage
At St John’s, we are proud stewards of a rich historic environment and enjoy sharing it with both the College community and wider public. Throughout the year, the College hosts public engagement events including Secret Gardens of St John’s, heritage talks, tours, research seminars and exhibitions, helping open up the history, landscape and stories of the Durham peninsula to new audiences. The College’s historic buildings and gardens have also featured in documentary filming and wider heritage projects.
Mystery Norman stones at St John’s
A visit to St John’s by The Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture has shed new light on a number of carved stones located within the Chapel grounds.
The stones, provisionally dated to around 1130–1150, are believed to be of Norman origin and are now being assessed for inclusion within the organisation’s national record of Romanesque stonework across the British Isles.
The visit included detailed investigation of the stones and a wider inspection of the Chapel of St Mary-the-Less for surviving Norman-period features. While the exact origin of the stones remains unknown, historians believe they may hold important clues to the early medieval history of the Durham peninsula.
heritage
In the John's Chronicle
26 June 2026
From Design to Stewardship: Learning from the WHUK Spring Workshop 2026
Swastika Paudel describes her time at the World Heritage UK Spring Workshop 2026 at Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site in Matlock Bath. With the support of the St John’s College Student Opportunities Fund, I was able to attend the World Heritage UK Spring Workshop 2026 at Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site in Matlock […]
10 February 2026
Shakespeare Recovered: The Story Behind Durham’s Stolen First Folio
Arts and Culture Editor Anna Collins-Room reviews ‘Shakespeare Recovered’, the exhibition currently taking place at Durham’s Palace Green Library. With over 1000 years of history to its name, it’s no secret that Durham is home to some of the North East’s most interesting heritage and culture, and for those studying here, there’s no better opportunity […]
6 February 2026
Stones, Space, and Silence: How Durham’s Architecture Teaches Authority
Arts and Culture Editor, Shravanee Amrute, examines the impact of Durham’s architecture on its culture, from theatre, to religion, to academic study, and ultimately on authority. The Durham architecture contributes to the evolution of culture and education where authority exists and is shaped by artistic and academic performance. It does not just operate as a […]
Events
St John’s calendar
Wed
7
Oct 2026
Church of the Empire – Book Launch
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Church of the Empire, a timely and compelling exploration of how the Church of England has been entangled with the empire and how this continues to affect faith, society and culture across the world.
Thu
15
Oct 2026
Gresham in the North: A History of the World in Four Algorithms
Join us for this public lecture that explores four key algorithms that have not just shaped pure mathematics, but have found unexpected applications in areas as diverse as nuclear physics, film-making, medicine, and music.
Tue
27
Oct 2026
Once a Johnian Formal: Science & Innovation in a Changing World
Calling all our alumni, colleagues and friends working across science, technology, engineering, innovation and research.