NEWS

Durham University – 175th anniversary titles launched

20 September 2007

As part of the celebrations marking Durham University’s 175th anniversary a new highly illustrated hardback book on the history of the University is published this month, entitled The Durham Difference - The Story of Durham University.

The book spans the birth, infancy and maturity of the country’s third oldest university, from its roots as a monastic institution and the award of its Royal Charter in 1837 to become one of the most highly regarded universities in the country with an outstanding record both in teaching and research in science and a great many other subjects. The author, Nigel Watson, a former graduate of the University, has thoroughly researched original records and drawn on hitherto untapped reminiscences of staff and students from various generations, which bring the book brilliantly to life.

In his foreword, the Chancellor and world-famous author, Dr Bill Bryson, says: “It is my private conviction that you can tell that you are in a good university town from the moment of arrival, in much the way you can often sense the presence of sea before you actually see it .… And nowhere that I know of is that happy air of productive, brainy toil more winningly offset by architectural glory than in Durham. What other universities, after all, can claim a castle and cathedral at their very heart …… ”

This is the only university based in a world heritage site and hence the ancient city of Durham is steeped in history. Its beautiful environment provides the opportunity for superb photographs, specially commissioned for the book (produced in a large, art-book format), as well as myriad illustrations of life in the University since its foundation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Higgins, in his foreword added: “This book provides a showcase for one of the world’s historic Universities. Durham University, the third oldest in England, was a place of scholarship and influence for a millennium before the University was formally established.”

Alongside the new history title, the University has also published another richly illustrated book entitled Treasures of Durham University Library . Edited by Richard Gameson (Professor of the History of the Book, Durham University), this paperback edition includes some fifty carefully selected artefacts from one of the most precious and largest collections of medieval manuscripts in Britain today. The Library is also home to no fewer than seventy thousand books printed before 1850.

The historic core of the collection is the library assembled by John Cosin, bishop of Durham (1660-72) and the deposit of the library from Bamburgh Castle and includes late antique papyri to modern literary manuscripts, as well as substantial archival and photographic materials. The medieval manuscripts include the best-preserved service-book produced in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest, and a collection of the works of the poet, Thomas Hoccleve.

Amongst the modern literary manuscripts are Kilvert’s Diary and letters of Gerard Manley Hopkins. The incunabula include one of only four complete copies of William Caxton’s Doctrine to learn French and English, while the early printed books range from rare tracts printed by Wynkyn de Worde to the unique copy of Thomas More’s first assault on Martin Luther. Among the archival treasures are key documents relating to the ‘great’ Reform Bill of 1832, currency issued and signed by Gordon of Khartoum, the sword of the last Sultan of Darfur and historic photographs of the Sudan.

In his foreword Bill Bryson says: “Surprisingly few people, including many within the university itself, are aware of just how extensive and diverse the University Library’s holdings are…. This is clearly a collection worth knowing. So it is a very real joy to welcome here such a handsome and readable survey – all the more so as its publication happily coincides with the University’s 175th anniversary.”

-ENDS-

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Durham Difference

Author: Nigel Watson

Imprint: James and James (a member of the TMI Group)

Publication date: 8th September 2007 / RRP: £25 / ISBN: 978 1 903942 78 9

Specification: Hardback, 144 pages, 280 x 240 mm, over 200 colour and b/w illustrations

Treasures of Durham University Library

Editor: Professor Richard Gameson

Imprint: Third Millennium Publishing

Publication date: 8th September 2007 / RRP: £9.99 / ISBN: 978 1 903942 74 1

Specification: Paperback, 160 pages, 250 x 210 mm, over 125 colour and b/w illustrations

For further information contact Michael D Jackson, Marketing Manager, Third Millennium Information Ltd, 2-5 Benjamin St, EC1M 5QL. Tel: +44 (0)207 336 0144. Email: mj@tmiltd.com. Website: www.tmiltd.com