Pre-history
Persons from the 7th Century
Persons from the Middle Ages
Some lesser mortals from the Middle Ages
Prior
Thomas de Melsonby
Local Rhyme
Booklets
Prior Thomas de Melsonby
likeness
- career - seal
- architectural work
| Coldingham | Durham |
| interior
see What is to be seen exterior see What is to be seen |
first
central tower Chapel of the Nine Altars |
Durham
- first central tower
The first tower was destroyed by a lightning strike. This 'grotesque' is built into the interior of the present tower and is thought to have come from the first tower.
Photograph by C.R.A. Davies
The figure appears to be that of a seal man. In folklore, when the fishermen went for a long spell at sea, the seal men came ashore to keep the wives company at night.
Durham - Chapel of the Nine Altars
Photograph by C.R.A. Davies