Durham Cathedral welcomes visitors back to the central tower for the first time in over three years

Visitors can once again enjoy the breath-taking view from the top of the tower, but getting to the top is not for the faint hearted. Credit: ITV TYNE TEES

An historic cathedral's central tower once again dominates its city's skylinefollowing three years of repair work.

The doors of Durham Cathedral's majestic central tower have finallyreopened to the public on Saturday morning after an extensive conservation programme.

The landmark, which is steeped in history, has been a focal point in Durham for nearly a thousand years. Much of the repair work was done because the sandstone on the upper parapet and at bell chamber level was found to be heavily weathered and eroded, partly as a consequence of Victorian conservation techniques, during a routine inspection.

The new "blaxter" sandstone which has been hand-carved and installed, will be instantly recognisable to visitors once they reach the top, but getting there is not for the faint hearted. Visitors will have to climb 325 steps before they can enjoy the breath-taking views over Durham City.

The stone was supplied by Dunhouse Quarry, near Barnard Castle, CountyDurham, and is geologically the same as that used centuries earlier but is lighter in colour.

The Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, Dean of Durham, said: "Excitement is building at Durham Cathedral as we prepare to welcome an influx of new and returning visitors, keen to take in the breath-taking views of Durham City and beyond from our central tower."

The work was carried out by the cathedral's in-house team of stone masonswith specialist contractors engaged when required. Working to a scheme developed by the cathedral's conservation architect, Chris Cotton.

Between 1093 and 1133, Durham Cathedral was completely rebuilt by theNormans, replacing an older, Anglo-Saxon cathedral. The new cathedral was designed to have a central tower and two western towers, in a cruciform. The two western towers were originally integrated into thecastle wall surrounding the peninsula, forming part of the site’s militarydefences.

Additional changes were made to the building over the following centuries,resulting in the cathedral as it stands today.