e added the present
porch or entrance from the courtyard to the great hall. The great
staircase in the north-west corner of the courtyard is his and bears his
arms. Within and leading to Tunstall's Gallery is the Black Staircase,
also the work of Cosin. He enlarged the chapel, and constructed and
fitted several apartments in the castle, besides several minor works. In
his will, he says, he spent the greater part of his temporal estate in
"rebuilding and repaireing the two episcopall Castles of Durham and
Bishop Auckland." This, he states, cost him seventeen thousand pounds,
including the furnishing and ornamenting of the chapels, which he did
"for the use of my successors in those Chappells for ever." Many of the
agreements between Bishop Cosin and his masons, plasterers, carpenters,
and painters, from which the exact dates and prices paid for the work
may be learned, are preserved.

The latest important work at the castle was the rebuilding of the keep,
in 1840, which was described at that time as "a picturesque ruin." It
was entirely rebuilt on its original plan. The gateway to the courtyard
was repaired and modernised by Bishop Barrington, with the existing
inartistic result.

Durham Castle owes its picturesque appearance to two causes--first, its
magnificent and commanding position, on a rocky escarpment; and second,
no doubt, to the many vicissitudes through which it has passed, the
alterations and additions made necessary by time and constant war, and
later, the entirely different uses to which the building is put.

[Illustration: Staircase in the Castle.]

It is now chiefly used as a hall of residence for university men and as
lodging for the Judges of Assize.

The most favourable time for the architectural student to visit the
castle is during one of the university vacations, otherwise many
interesting features would be denied him. Many portions (except
students' chambers) are, however, open to the public every week day.

#The University of Durham.#--From an early date, frequent mention is
made in the history of the see of Durham, of a college at Oxford called
the Durham College. Its origin is not exactly known, but by the
liberality of several bishops and priors its original endowment
increased, until provision was made for eight fellows and eight
scholars. This was the case at the time of the suppression of the
monasteries by King Henry VIII., when, owing to its connection with the
monastery of Durham,