Durham Museum

St Mary-le-Bow stands beside the World Heritage Site of Durham Cathedral and Castle, in a narrow lane near the Bailey. The church itself is a 17th-century rebuilding of a medieval building that fell in 1632. Its roof is 15th century, its panelling 18th century, and its tower of 1702 holds a bell cast in 1759. The altar rails date from 1705 and the wood screen from 1707, while the wainscoting was added in 1731. The museum inside told the story of Durham from medieval times to today. Exhibits showed life, work and leisure in the city, centre of pilgrimage and seat of the Prince Bishops. There were displays on organ building and other local trades, plus changing exhibitions on Durham’s social history. Visitors could also make brass rubbings and buy souvenirs. Three sculptures by Fenwick Lawson were on show. ‘Cuthbert of Farne’ arrived in 2004, ‘Gaia’ in 2011, and a piece on Jacob wrestling the angel completed the set. The church was cared for by the Bow Trust, a charity set up in 1975 to keep the building open for history and culture.