| Event type: | Talk |
| Date: | 4th November 2026 |
| Time: | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Group: | Garden |
| Venue: | Bishop Auckland Methodist Church |
| Organiser: | |
| Cost: | Free to members with £2 contribution to overheads from any other u3a visitor |
| Booking: | Note that booking is required. |
Please note that this talk is Wednesday, 4th not Tuesday, 3rd.
Our November speaker is Martin Roberts and he will be giving one of his garden talks about our local area. In this one we'll hear about the medieval gardens of Durham Cathedral Priory and those of the gentry families that live on the Bailey but it’s also about the historic landscape on a larger scale
The wooded gorge of the River Wear, making its long meander around the peninsula at Durham, is a great deception. Its visual message, of chocolate-box familiarity, contrasting nature against history, leaf against stone, is misleading. The riverbanks are themselves rich in history, their development is a layered and changing landscape, a palimpsest that shifts with the fortunes of the city above. The talk will examine the changing function and appearance of this important historic landscape.
Some of you know Martin already. In September 2022 Martin was our speaker at Local History where he delivered a very interesting talk about updating Pevsner's Guide. More recently, on 4th September 2025, Martin was the guide for the Art & Architecture-organised event entitled 'A Walking Tour of the Historic Buildings in West Auckland'. This was well-attended with lots of very positive feedback.
Bookings for this event will start in August and end in October.