One key element in historical narratives is that the Scots spared Prior Castell‘s clock (first constructed 1494-1519) because it has a thistle, the national emblem of Scotland, carved into its casing. The Hunter manuscript of the Rites of Durham, dating to 1655 or 1656, is quite clear on this point however:But in the yeare 1650: this Abbey churc[h] was made a prison for the Scotts and quite defaced w(i)thin, for ther(e) was to the Number 4500 w(hi)ch most of them perished and dyed ther(e) in a very short space and were thrown into holes by great numbers together in a moste Lamentable manner; But in the yeare 1655 the Clocke and Chyme was repayred againe w(hi)ch was taken downe and preserved from the s(ai)d ruyne.The clock, it would seem, was never there at all while the Scots were imprisoned in the Cathedral.
We offer a diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. These are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop, so you can fit learning around your life.
We believe learning should be an enjoyable, social experience, so our courses offer the opportunity to discuss what you’re learning with others as you go, helping you make fresh discoveries and form new ideas. You can unlock new opportunities with unlimited access to hundreds of online short courses for a year by subscribing to our Unlimited package. Build your knowledge with top universities and organisations.