Two photos of the frozen River Wear in Durham 1981/82 and 1895.

Posted on by Durham Weather

Two amazing photos of the frozen River Wear in Durham.

The first, credited to Matthew Avery and Helen Avery is of the Cathedral across the frozen river. Although Helen originally thought it was from 1983, it’s almost certainly from a year earlier in the winter of 1981/82.

December 1981 and the first half of January 1982 were very severe, particularly 8th-27th December 1981 and 6th-16th January 1982, so this picture was most likely taken in one of these periods (probably December 1981). The blue tint on the photograph makes it look very cold indeed.

Frozen River Wear, Winter 1981/82
Frozen River Wear, Winter 1981/82. By courtesy of Matthew Avery and Helen Avery.
Frozen River Wear, Winter 1981/82. By courtesy of Matthew Avery and Helen Avery.
Frozen River Wear, Winter 1981/82. By courtesy of Matthew Avery and Helen Avery.

Here’s a comment from James Clark on the I Love Durham Facebook group. Thanks James 😁

Facebook post from James Clark saying how he thinks the photographs are from 1982.

The second one is from Stephen Kitson who says he was given it when the Cock O The North pub closed in April 2005. The picture was hanging in the pub. He was told it was from the 1830’s, but it’s likely to be from a set of photos taken in February 1895 of skating on the river.

Photo of skating on the River Wear in February 1895. Previously hung in the Cock O The North pub. Courtesy of Stephen Kitson.
Photo of skating on the River Wear in February 1895. Previously hung in the Cock O The North pub. Courtesy of Stephen Kitson.
(Visited 344 times)