Pilgrim Souvenirs: Book Launch and Talk (Morning)

Celebrate the launch of Pilgrim Souvenirs, Devotional and Other Objects of Faith a new book by underwater archaeologist Gary Bankhead. This richly illustrated volume presents the results of a sixteen-year investigation of the River Wear in Durham City, uncovering over 14,500 artefacts that reveal seven centuries of faith and devotion.

At the heart of the book is the Durham River Wear Assemblage: medieval pilgrim badges, ampullae, crucifixes, coins, and modern ecclesiastical objects linked to Archbishop Michael Ramsey. These finds illuminate Durham’s role as a pilgrimage centre and its enduring spiritual traditions, from the cult of St Cuthbert to twentieth-century symbolic offerings.

Join Gary for an engaging talk, Q&A, and book signing, and discover the stories behind these extraordinary objects.

Morning and Afternoon Sessions Available

We are expecting this book launch to be very popular, so we are running two sessions: one in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you book a ticket but later find you can’t attend, please cancel your booking so someone else can join us.

Free and open to all. Please book for the morning session via Eventbrite or by calling Palace Green Library on 0191 334 2932.