Open Treasure at Durham Cathedral

About

Open Treasure is a new world-class exhibition route which transforms public access to some of Durham Cathedral’s most spectacular spaces, including the fourteenth-century Monks’ Dormitory and the monastic Great Kitchen. Journey through some of the most remarkable medieval monastic buildings in the British Isles as the story of Durham Cathedral and its incredible collections is revealed.

The journey begins in the magnificent Monks’ Dormitory, which boasts one of the best-preserved medieval oak-beamed ceilings in the UK, with a series of interactive exhibitions and activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Discover the fascinating and often turbulent history of Christianity in North East England, from the life of St Cuthbert to the Reformation.

The Open Treasure experience continues in the new state-of-the-art Collections Gallery, which houses some of the Cathedral’s most spectacular treasures as part of a rolling exhibition programme, alongside loans from other institutions.

Continue to the Great Kitchen, one of only two surviving medieval monastic kitchens in the UK. This spectacular space houses the Treasures of St Cuthbert, including his pectoral cross, ivory comb, coffin and portable altar.

The Pilgrim’s Gallery gives visitors the opportunity to leave their own mark on history, before exiting the Open Treasure experience via the Covey and returning to the medieval Cloister at the heart of the Cathedral’s medieval precinct.

By opening up public access to the Cathedral’s collections and most spectacular architectural spaces, Open Treasure  inspires visitors of all ages to see Durham Cathedral in a new light.