Sanctuary! Durham Cathedral Museum Exhibition
Event date and start time
Various dates and times

24 February - 29 June
In medieval times, Durham Cathedral was known as a place of sanctuary, where criminals could find temporary refuge from the law.
Discover the stories of people who fled to Durham Cathedral and find out about the famous Sanctuary Ring on the North door - how it became one of the key symbols of the Cathedral, and how it inspires artists today.
See prints from 18th century, letters from royalty, commemorative items, registers of sanctuary seekers, manuscripts and the moulds used to create the replica Sanctuary Ring.
Replica Sanctuary Ring
In 1977, it was decided the original ring was to be removed from the North Door due to signs of corrosion, making it very fragile. Because of this, it was decided that a replica would be created and in 1980, the replica was fixed to the door, which is the same one you see today.

Seeking Sanctuary
In around 1133, a 'watching room' was built above the cathedral's new North Door, where two monks would keep a lookout for approaching sanctuary seekers. Fugitives were given 37 days of sanctuary, compared to other churches offering 40 days, before they either face trial or ‘abjure the realm’, leave the country and going into lifelong exile.
After sanctuary was abolished, the porch was destroyed in the late 1700s, when it was shortened and remodelled.





