Kathedra
Statue Durham County Durham

Kathedra

Statue In Durham, County Durham

A stone chair of carved gargoyles situated in Durham on the banks of the river Wear.

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This piece by sculptor Colin Wilbourn looks like a plain stone throne from the front, but the back has intricate carvings of gargoyles. Created in 1988, the chair is known by many names; The Gargoyle Chair, The Storyteller's Chair, The Peace Seat and Order and Chaos, but it's official title is Kathedra.

Based on the name for the Bishop's raised throne, the 'Cathedra'. It is said the seat was inspired by the idea of sanctuary, which could be found at nearby Durham Cathedral.

The seat is a great place to sit and watch the wildlife on the river or people-watch the crossings on Prebends Bridge.

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How To Find Kathedra

Where Is Kathedra?

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Lat / Long

54.771736, -1.578961

What three words

secure.valley.paper

Where To Park For Kathedra?

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Lat / Long

54.777019, -1.574097

What three words

middle.wins.artist

Parking is available at Prince Bishops Car Park - DH1 3UJ

Contributed by Rachel Hagar

Adventurer, amateur photographer, and listophile. I love finding new and unusual places, especially a good waterfall or a place with Tudor era history, due to my small obsession with Henry VIII. I try to get out and about in the fresh air whenever I can, dragging my daughter along for the ride, to get her (and me) away from screens and devices.

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Kathedra was listed in Statue // County Durham // Durham