Were the great English buildings like Durham Cathedral built by Norman French?
Durham cathedral, unlike many Norman architecture, is still mostly Norman in design and construction although there are, naturally, additions. It was built by itinerant Norman masons – a serf would have little knowledge of working stone – the masons knew their value and charged accordingly. Normandy of this time was less than French, although nominally part of France, they raised their own taxes, armies and were in practical terms independent, diplomatically they were linked to Britain long before the invasion – which is how William came to be nominated as a successor. Edward the Confessor had a Norman mother and lived much of his life in Normandy.
