HALLGARTH STREET AND CHURCH STREET
St Oswald's church is the oldest church in Durham, as there is evidence of a church being there in Saxon times. It is the largest and grandest of the medieval churches that survive. It served a large parish, which may be equated with a pre-Norman estate within the 12th century and was erected in the borough of Elvethaugh.
At the same time the north and south aisles were added to the church, presumably to cope with the increase in the numbers of parishioners. The earliest remains of St Oswald’s are the Chancel and the four bays at the east of the Nave, these being 12th century. St Oswald's is noted for that 13th and 14th century gravestones that were used for the built-in stone staircase. Most of the carved oak roof from 1411 was destroyed, only a bit remaining is on the north aisle [21].
St Oswalds was recast in 1694, and in 1834 general decay and mining subsidence [5] made necessary the extensive restoration by Bonomi and Green. The statues that are in the east wall represent King Oswald and St Cuthbert who carries the King's head. The King's skull and hand were treasured relics of the Lindisfarne community.
There are historic records of an Anchorite and Anchorage attached to St Oswald's. The two fields nearby; Anchorage Close and Palmer Close was where tradition says that the pilgrims used to leave their horses grazing whilst they went to pray to St Cuthbert.
The Sanctuary Cross known as Charley Cross is not sufficiently well known, being partly hidden by a hedge, nor is the nearby plague sufficiently explicit. Another cross, Philipson’s Cross was removed from the vicinity of the Mount Joy roundabout in the 1820's and placed for safekeeping in the refectory of the Cathedral [37]. Not so well known is the mile limit of this outer sanctuary area originally marked by these crosses.
The last of the Toll Houses at the head of Shincliffe Peth although the Tollhouse at the foot of Potters Peth has been removed [37]. Anchorage Terrace are terraced houses that were originally single-storey cottages built in the early 19th century for the miners of Elvet Pit, with the upper storeys being added later. Elvet Pit (1840-1908) [29] which was closed due to flooding was sited south of Stockton Road, where the Palatine Centre of Durham University is currently located.
Nearby and linked by a bridge to Mount Joy at the foot, is Nine Tree Hill. This was where the people of Elvet witnessed the arrival at Houghall from the east of Oliver Cromwell. It is said that he stayed several days at the old farmhouse.
Up on Mount Joy hill is the reservoir which supplies the city with its water, and it was completed in 1849 [1].
At the Hall Garth, east of Hallgarth Street, there was once an extensive structure containing a whipping post for scolding women, and other implements of punishment [6].
No. 56, 57, and 58 Hallgarth Street are of some interest, one having a good staircase. Hallgarth Street is shown as being built on the map of 1595, but the fronts of the houses are deceptive, like many in Durham. Such as No 64 and 65 that both show old stone and early brick at the rear, while No 70 (Paddock Cottage) has an attractive wing of stone and brick, roofed with stone roofing tiles approx. 12” to 15” long, and 9” to 10” wide.
A row of Queen Anne Cottages backing the street and approached through a vennel, seemed to have been let in tenements but were mostly empty. Some buildings in the immediate vicinity of the Elvet Tithe Barn are thought to contain remains of medieval buildings, and one appears to have been used as a workshop.
