Project background

Durham Cathedral were about to start remodelling their website. They wanted to make the content of their 150-plus pages more appealing to their target audiences. These included visitors, regular worshippers, teachers, researchers and potential volunteers.

I acted as temporary web editor remotely for two days a week for four months. I researched similar organisation websites such as York Minster, created content and adapted existing pages, marked up missing areas as well as writing SEO metadata descriptions, streamlining navigation choices and incorporating staff feedback. I then loaded the content onto the new website, checked it and highlighted any issues in the bug log. Afterwards I delivered How to manuals for the staff so they could update the website, as well as delivering a training session on user-friendly web content.

Sample text

<h1>Architecture

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“One of the great architectural experiences of Europe”

– architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner

<h2>Getting your bearings

The Cathedral is built on a peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the River Wear. To our west lies a precipitous gorge. The northern front of the Cathedral faces onto Palace Green. Here the full 496-foot (143 metres) length from west to east can be seen.

<h2>Over a thousand years old

Building began in 1093 and largely completed within 40 years. It is a renowned masterpiece of Romanesque architecture and secured World Heritage status in 1986.

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<h2>What is Romanesque architecture?

The name means ‘from Rome’. It’s a style of architecture that dominated Western Europe in the 11th and 12th centuries. It often features rounded arches and vaults.

Find out more at Durham World Heritage Site [open link in new window to https://www.durhamworldheritagesite.com/architecture/Romanesque]

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<h2>11^th and 12^th century wonders

We are the only cathedral in England to retain almost all of its Norman craftsmanship. The original design and layout is also preserved. The nave, quire and transepts are all Norman. At the west end is the twelfth-century late Norman style Galilee Chapel.

<h2>A world-first

The nave boasts what is believed to the world’s first structural pointed arch.

<h2>Gothic and grand

The 13^th century Chapel of the Nine Altars is in the Gothic style.

<h2>Towers

• Western Towers – date from 12^th and 13^th
• Central Tower – built in the 15^th Displays perpendicular Gothic detailing.

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<h3>How you can help

Donate to Foundation 2020 to ensure the Cathedral’s amazing architecture survives for another thousand years.

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<h2>A home to medieval monks

To the south, The Cloister was begun at the same time as the Cathedral. However much of the work is from the fifteenth century or later. The buildings surrounding it form the most intact surviving set of medieval monastic buildings in the UK.

The magnificent timber roof of the 14^th century Monk’s Dormitory now shelters our Open Treasure exhibition. Visitors can also experience the circular Great Kitchen which houses the Treasures of St Cuthbert. The medieval vaulted Undercroft is home to the Cathedral Shop and Undercroft Restaurant.

<h2>Beyond the Cloister

If you wander through the Cloister, you’ll find The College, the name given to our Cathedral Close. Around the quiet green are offices, the Chorister School and homes to our clergy. Many of the picturesque buildings first took shape in the Middle Ages.

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<h3>Did you know?

The medieval gate house giving access to The College area is still locked every night.

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