We're proudly based in the City of Durham, with its rich literary legacy. You'll find us in environs that have inspired many authors over the centuries, from the writer of one of the oldest English plays, the twelfth-century Peregrini, to modern novelists like A.S. Byatt, Pat Barker or Benjamin Myers. C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia was, allegedly, sparked by a particular lamppost in Durham when he was briefly based here!
The Department of English Studies is nestled around medieval Durham's UNESCO World Heritage site. We are spread across three different buildings: Hallgarth House, a Georgian listed building, provides accommodation for many teaching and administrative staff; 42 Old Elvet is a Georgian listed building, housing academic staff as well as providing teaching spaces; Elvet Riverside houses many academic staff and stands beside the River Wear.
While studying at Durham, students will make frequent use of the nearby Bill Bryson Library. They may also get the chance to use the archival materials and medieval manuscripts of Durham Cathedral, Palace Green, and Ushaw College Libraries. All visitors can explore the literary collections held in our Museums and Galleries.
Browse the map to see how the Department of English Studies is situated relative to other key sites in the University and City.
Can't visit us in person before you apply? Take advantage of our self-guided virtual tour below, which lets you explore the Department buildings.
Elvet Riverside hosts several of our staff offices, and overlooks Durham Cathedral and the River Wear
Hallgarth House is our Georgian building, where you will find several staff and tutorial rooms
42 Old Elvet is located on a historic street, and houses offices and seminar rooms
Our Department of English Studies is proudly based in a medieval city which features a UNESCO World Heritage Site at its heart. Durham also has a rich literary legacy. You'll find us in environs that have inspired many authors over the centuries, from the writer of one of the oldest English plays, the twelfth-century Peregrini, to modern novelists like A.S. Byatt, Pat Barker or Benjamin Myers. C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia was, allegedly, sparked by a particular lamppost in Durham when he was briefly based here!
The city also hosts literary and drama festivals throughout the year: Durham Book Festival is a Durham County Council event produced by New Writing North with support from Durham University and Arts Council England. Founded in 1990, it is one of the country's oldest literary festivals. Durham Fringe Festival is a grassroots performing arts event set up in 2021 that celebrates a variety of art forms and offers a platform for new and established artists. Durham Drama Festival has showcased the best new student writing for over 50 years.
The North East region in general boasts a rich literary heritage and a series of lesser-known literary connections. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born in Coxhoe Hall in 1806 and baptised in St Helen's Church in Kelloe. Lord Byron married his wife, Anne Isabella Milbanke at Seaham Hall, her family home, in 1815. In his great national tour of 1858, Charles Dickens gave readings in Darlington and Durham, walking thirteen miles to perform at the Theatre Royal in Sunderland.
Billy Elliott, a film set in County Durham during the 1984-5 Miners' Strike, was adapted into a musical that became a Broadway hit - its writer, Lee Hall, was born in Newcastle and also wrote the screenplay for War Horse and Rocketman. Dame Catherine Cookson was one of the best-known and most prolific British novelists of all time, selling more than 100 million books that are mostly set in her native borough of South Tyneside. Terry Deary, creator of the infamous Horrible Histories series, is from Sunderland.
Prebends Bridge is one of three stone-arch bridges in the centre of Durham that cross the River Wear. It features a plaque displaying Sir Walter Scott's words about Durham.
C. S. Lewis visited Durham in 1943, where he says he was overwhelmed by the magnificence of the Cathedral. He wrote 'The Chronicles of Narnia' between 1949 and 1954.
Sir Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate from 1999-2009, on stage with Professor Michael O'Neill at the Durham Book Festival 2009.
Parts of Harry Potter were filmed in Durham Castle and Cathedral. World Heritage Day 2023 offered people the chance to play a game of Quidditch in the Castle grounds.
The "Crown of Light" was a prominent light installation showcased at the Lumiere light festival, which takes place in Durham every two years, in 2009. Created by Ross Ashton, Robert Ziegler and John Del'Nero, it featured illuminated manuscripts from the Lindisfarne Gospels projected onto the façade of Durham Cathedral.
As part of an installation at Lumiere 2021, poems commissioned from ten of the UK's most exciting poets were illuminated onto the walls of Durham Castle. Here are words written by Zambia-born author and Assistant Professor in the Department of English Studies Kayombo Chingonyi.
Find out more about us, members of staff, and our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Contact us to find out more about our courses and research.
Hallgarth House
77 Hallgarth Street
Durham City
DH1 3AY
Tel: +44 (0)191 334 2500
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