Durham Castle is a Norman castle in the city of Durham, England, which follows the usual motte and bailey design favoured by the Normans.
The construction of Durham Castle began in 1072 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The stone used for the new buildings was cut from the cliffs below the walls and moved up using winches.
The castle was the seat of the holder of the office of the Bishop of Durham, appointed by the King to exercise royal authority on his behalf. In May 1080, it was attacked and besieged for four days by rebels from Northumbria, and in 1177, King Henry II of England seized the castle.
The castle has a large Great Hall created by Bishop Antony Bek in the early 14th century. Today, the Hall is 14 metres (46 ft) high and over 30 metres (98 ft) long.
Durham Castle is jointly designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral.