Near as I can figure it this week, the most likely answers, seem to me to be:
Q1. Durham
Q2. Sir Ove Arup
N.B. for question two, the engineer is sometimes called Sir Ove Nyquist Arup.
The initial clues place us in a very beautiful northern English city, specifically Durham. The cathedral and castle there were awarded world heritage status by UNESCO c 2008 and there is a legend that the settlement was founded, when St Cuthbert's funeral bier was halted and the faithful were unable to move it. They had a fast for three days and during that time, the saint is alleged to have appeared to a monk, with instructions that the remains be taken to a place called Dun Holm. The funeral party had no idea where this was, until they encountered a milk maid who was looking for a dun cow, which she told them had gone missing there. The girl led them to the spot and after burying the saint, they went on to found the city. There are photographs of a sculpture of the 'Dun Cow', by Andrew Burton, cast c 1997, on the banks of the river near the cathedral.
Some sources claim that St Cuthbert's feast day is the twentieth of March and that his relics are buried in Durham cathedral. A second saint, who was born c 673 and is said to be interred there, is St Bede. Several sources claim that there is an organ, which has 5746 pipes, in the cathedral and that it was built c 1877 by Henry Willis. Durham cathedral is said to have a frontage of 496 feet in some references. Durham castle was attacked twice by the Scots, under Malcolm the second (father Kenneth) in 1006 and again in 1069. Malcolm's army was defeated during the siege of Durham.
The oldest bridge in Durham is said to have been built by Bishop Flambard c1127 and was rebuilt c15th century. From the photographs and satellite pictures, it does appear to have two arches. North of there lies a modern concrete bridge called the Milburngate bridge, which looks like it was built in the nineteen sixties or early seventies. Travelling south from there brings us to the third span, which is called Prebend's bridge. This is a footbridge which was built c1771 and does appear to have three arches. The river wear loops to the north/north east around the cathedral and going in that direction brings you to a concrete footbridge, the Kingsgate bridge, which is said to have been constructed c1963, by a very prolific, productive and creative engineer called Sir Ove Nyquist Arup (born c 1895). He is said to have also built the Sydney Opera house and the Pompidou centre, in Paris. A bridge to the north of there, which used to have a chapel dedicated to St Andrew on it, is likely to be the Elvet Bridge. The Elvet bridge has been rebuilt several times over the centuries and was reconstructed following flood damage c1771. I couldn't find an exact reference for dimensions of the Durham viaduct but it goes through the town and looks to be about the right size, when compared to the description.
Link to the competition
Where Was I?
Hello again Eastender! This time I had little trouble with the wherewasi, as we were just up to Durham Uni for our son's graduation. The clues were therefore happy reminders of a great day. A few factual additions: (1) Prebend's Bridge was unique in that it was built not to connect roads, but to provide support for a water pipe to supply the cathedral quarter from a spring on the other side. (") Kingsgate Bridge was designed in 1963, but actually opened a couple of years later. (3) Old Elvet Bridge dates from 1127, was rebuilt in the 15th c., but then added to again in 1810 for heavier market-day traffic. btw, it is a lovely. lovely town, which you should visit if you haven't already.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I like Durham and think it well deserving of its world heritage site status.... ;-)
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