Sporting Heritage

Durham’s sporting heritage is packed with fascinating facts.

Established in 1882, Durham County Cricket Club celebrated its 21st anniversary as a First Class County in 2013. Now known as the Seat Unique Riverside, it hosted its first ever Ashes Test match in the same year.

You may also be surprised to know West Auckland is “home to the First World Cup”. In 1909, Sir Thomas was asked to organise an international football tournament, but was disappointed when the English Football Association refused to send an English team to the competition. So Sir Thomas invited amateur side West Auckland Football Club to represent Great Britain, who beat the Swiss team 2-0 in the final.

Every year, Durham City and the River Wear play host to the second oldest rowing regatta in Britain. Durham Regatta, known as the “Henley of the North”.

And in medieval times the Benedictine monks at Durham Cathedral enjoyed an outdoor bowling alley within the precincts of the monastic property, with written records suggesting that the presence of a senior monk helped “to keep good order”.