3 Interesting Facts about Durham

Durham is a picturesque city in the North East of England and well known for a variety of different factors. Its beautiful historical landmarks, brilliant eateries, and great transport links makes this area an ideal place to both live and work in – and just like with any great city, there are facts to be explored.

Here are our top 3 interesting facts about Durham.

Durham Regatta

You may be familiar with Durham Regatta’s thrilling boat racing, family entertainment, and delicious food stalls. The event pulled in 10,000 spectators and over 1,400 competitors last year alone, but did you know that it has actually been around for 185 years?

It has been held on Durham’s River Wear since 1834, making it the second oldest regatta in Britain. Impressive, right? The stunning backdrop of the ‘World Heritage Site’ has been serving happy patrons for a very long time, and the event is often referred to as ‘the Henley of the North’.

English Mustard

Let’s be honest – it’s a bit like marmite in the sense that you either love it or hate it. Regardless of whether you believe it belongs in your ham sandwich or actually just the bottom of the bin, you have to admit it’s pretty cool that Durham is the birthplace of English Mustard.

Back in the early 1900’s, Mrs. Clements had the revolutionary idea to grind up mustard seeds in hope that they’d produce more flavour. Mrs. Clements was successful! The paste quickly became popular all over the UK, before the family business was eventually sold to the Colman’s of Norwich.

Cricket

From historical events to tasty (well, each to their own) condiments, did you know that Durham is also famous for its ties to one of the most popular sports in the world?

After England’s cricket team was crowned the champions of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup tournament, two specific players shot to stardom. Ben stokes and Mark Wood absolutely did their country proud – and they’re local to Durham! Both lads serve Durham County Cricket Club.

Durham and County Durham are two very cricket-orientated areas of the North East, with Emirates Riverside and Chester-le-Street Cricket Club owning the spotlight. Both venues are home to live cricket matches alongside being a great place to eat and drink locally with your community. The next time you fancy supporting a Durham cricket club, why not pop down to Chester-le-Street’s Ropery Lane?

Chester-le-Street Cricket Club boasts a variety of amenities including friendly staff, cheap beverages, great cricket matches, and a fantastic community atmosphere!

Maybe when you’re there, you can sit down with your friends and discuss these 3 interesting facts over a pint of beer or glass of wine.