Law and order, crime and punishment themed exhibition for County Durham

The history

For hundreds of years, County Durham has had a leading law and order role in the region. This is a forgotten and overlooked part of Durham’s history. Visit County Durham (VCD) and partners, involved in this area of interest across Durham, want to bring this heritage to life and share the city’s fascinating history of law and order with both residents and visitors.

Funding

VCD is applying for National Lottery Heritage funds to develop this theme for the county. This pivotal part of Durham’s undiscovered heritage dates back centuries and more than twenty related sites around the city have been identified. In partnership with Durham Courts, Durham Police, HMP Durham, Durham Cathedral, Durham University and The Story, we would like to bring artefacts, collections and stories together and share them before they are lost or forgotten.

VCD would like to work with the National Lottery to preserve and animate this important part of the city’s heritage for residents and for future generations.

Your views matter to us

We are applying for a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, and we would like to know if you support the initiative and whether there is anything else that you would like to see included.

As part of shaping this theme, tell us which parts of the county's law and order, crime and punishment theme interest you most, how would you like to see the theme presented and how do you think the theme should be presented to younger audiences.

Durham locations connected with the law and order theme

This consultation will close on Tuesday 16 September 2025

To have the information in a different format contact letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk

If you have responded to an earlier survey, you do not need to respond to this one.