Durham Castle Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham , England , which has been wholly occupied since 1840 by University College , Durham . It is open to the general public to visit , but only through guided tours , since it is in use as a working building and is home to over 100 students . The castle stands on top of a hill above the River Wear on Durham ' s peninsula , opposite Durham Cathedral ( ) . History . The castle was originally built in the 11th century as a projection of the Norman king ' s power in the north of England , as the population of England in the north remained " wild and fickle " following the disruption of the Norman Conquest in 1066 . It is an example of the early motte and bailey castles favoured by the Normans . The holder of the office of the Bishop of Durham was appointed by the King to exercise royal authority on his behalf , the castle was his seat . It remained the bishop ' s palace for the bishops of Durham until the bishops made Auckland Castle their primary residence and the castle was converted into a college . The castle has a large Great Hall , created by Bishop Antony Bek in the early 14th century . It was the largest Great Hall in Britain until Bishop Richard Foxe shortened it at the end of the 15th century . However , it is still 14 m high and over 30 m long . University College . In 1837 , the castle was donated to the newly formed University of Durham by Bishop Edward Maltby as accommodation for students . It was named University College . Architect Anthony Salvin rebuilt the dilapidated keep from the original plans . Opened in 1840 , the castle still houses over 100 students , most of whom are in the keep . Students and staff of the college eat their meals in Bishop Bek ' s Great Hall . The Great Hall ' s Undercroft , meanwhile , serves as the Junior Common Room , including its bar - i . e . as the principal common room for the college ' s undergraduate members . The two chapels are still used , both for services and other purposes such as theatrical performances . Other facilities contained within the castle include the college ' s library , the college offices , and the college ' s IT suite . During university vacations , the college offers rooms in the castle for ( usually academic ) conferences and as hotel accommodation . Access to the castle for the public is restricted to guided tours . Outside of these , only members of the college or vacation guests may visit the castle . In 2011 , the castle was closed to guided tours while refurbishments are carried out . It reopened to the general public in autumn 2011 . Chapels . The college makes extensive use of the castle ' s two chapels : the Norman Chapel , built around 1078 , and Tunstall ' s Chapel , built in 1540 . The Norman Chapel is the oldest accessible part of the castle . Its architecture is Anglian in nature , possibly due to forced Anglian labour being used to build it . In the 15th century , its three windows were all but blocked up because of the expanded keep . It thus fell into disuse until 1841 when it was used as a corridor through which to access the keep . During the Second World War , it was used as a command and observation post for the Royal Air Force when its original use was recognised . It was re - consecrated shortly after the war and is still used for weekly services by the college . Tunstall ' s Chapel is the more heavily - used of the chapels , being somewhat larger . Bishop Cosin and Bishop Crewe extended it in the late 17th century . At the back of the chapel , some of the seats are 16th - century misericord s ( literally , mercy seats ) . These were designed such that a person standing for long periods of time could rest on a ledge of the upturned seat . World Heritage Site . Durham Castle is jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral , a short distance across Palace Green .