Durham University Collections (no longer on X)

From the end of January, we'll no longer be active on X. You can keep up to date with all our latest news and amazing collections by following us on: Instagram: instagram.com/durhamunicolle… Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/ducoll… Website: durham.ac.uk/library Thanks for your support!

Thomas Sharp’s road scheme necessitated the destruction of the lower end of Claypath. The photograph (1960’s) shows the historic buildings lost on the north side of the road, which included an Ironmongers, a pub (the Wheatsheaf inn) and the Co-operative Stores.

A reminder to please join us on Thursday 30th January from 6.30 – 7.30pm to learn more about this stunning jewellery from South Korean metal craftswoman and educator, Seeun Kim. FREE, but booking is required. Please book via our link in bio, or @ Oriental Museum on Eventbrite.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our latest Twilight Talk with Anna, exploring the fascinating Bioscience Collection! It was amazing to see such a great turnout and to dive deeper into the collection together. We can’t wait to see you at our next talk.

A quick reminder - this is our last week on X. This account won't be monitored from February onwards – you can follow us for all the latest news and updates on Instagram, Blue sky or our website (see pinned post). Thank you for following us - see you on our other accounts! 💜

Today is the annual celebration of the Scottish poet Robert (‘Rabbie’) Burns (1759-1796). Palace Green Library has a copy of one of the last volumes of his poetry from 1794 to be published in his lifetime!

Have you seen our new 'Jomon: Then and Now' display in the Japan Gallery of #DUOrientalMuseum? The Jomon people are best known for their vibrant ceramics, the oldest in Japan. Etsuko Ichikawa's 'JOMON Vitrified' is made from Uranium glass and changes colour under UV light.

In 1944 a local town planner Thomas Sharp created a plan for urban renewal in Durham. His scheme was finally brought to fruition between 1966 and 1974. The photograph shows the construction of the new Millburngate Bridge in 1966. #durham #DUCollections

Explore the hidden treasures of Durham University's Bioscience Collection at our #TwilightTalk on Jan 23! Discover the exciting work behind curating fossils & herbarium samples. 📅 5:30PM-6:30PM @ Museum of Archaeology Free, book now: eventbrite.co.uk/e/twilight-tal…

Join the Saturday Archaeological Illustration Club on 01/02/25 - develop your skills with expert guidance from Mark Hoyle, using real artefacts. Open to all skill levels—no booking needed! £5 cash. Ages 5+ welcome with an adult. Drop in & get creative! #ArchaeologicalIllustration

Explore the hidden treasures of Durham University's Bioscience Collection at our #TwilightTalk on Jan 23! Discover the exciting work behind curating fossils & herbarium samples. 📅 5:30PM-6:30PM @ Museum of Archaeology Free, book now: eventbrite.co.uk/e/twilight-tal…

By the early 20th century much of the city’s historic 17th and 18th century buildings were little more than slums.  The 1920s saw mass slum clearances, especially in Millburngate.  This photograph shows preparations in the 1960s for a new Road Scheme. #DUCollections #durham

Is learning more about art and craft one of your new year resolutions? Then please join us on Thursday 30th January from 6.30 – 7.30pm to learn more about the stunning jewellery of South Korean metal craftswoman and educator, Seeun Kim. The talk is free, but booking is required

Towards the end of last year, we were thrilled to welcome Lucy Worsley and the team from the BBC to film in Cosin’s Library to feature in the latest series of “Lucy Worsley Investigates”. #DUCosinsLibrary #DurhamUniversity #DUCollections

A small risk when making books in the early modern period: someone has left an inky thumbprint on this page, perhaps when they were taking the paper off the printing press? #rarebooks #specialcollections #DUCollections

By the 1920’s Traffic had become a serious problem in Durham City. All traffic was funnelled across the medieval bridges at Elvet and Framwellgate and around and through the narrow cobbled streets leading to the Market Place, shown here. #durham #DUCollections

This is a Chinese black and white multi-block woodcut printed with ink depicting an urban landscape in snow. Titled ‘Winter in 1987’ from 1998. This is in contrast to an image of Durham University campus in the snow.

Happy New Year from the Oriental Museum Collection! Here is a painting depicting two young boys dressed for a Russian Winter wearing thick woollen coats. On the back of the postcard are wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope you are keeping warm this winter.

Need festive advice on raising turkeys & making wine? Or, what to do if you accidentally swallow a wasp? “The new family receipt-book, containing seven hundred truly valuable receipts in various branches of domestic economy” has you covered! (Don’t try at home.) 🦃 Ref: CHS 645B

This is a Christmas card from the Oriental Musuem collection, it is a reproduction of a painting by Eisho of Kanzashi Geisha with a Gauze fan. The card was given by Mitsubishi Chemical Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Happy Christmas to you all from Durham University Collections.