IT is almost 100 years ago since the guns fell silent on the Western Front, bringing to an end one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history.

As the nation prepares to mark the centenary of the signing of the armistice, curators at Durham Cathedral have opened a new exhibition.

Armistice: Living with the Peace, which opens today, and runs until February 2, is part of the cathedral’s Open Treasure experience, and provides a personal and local perspective on the events of November 1918 and beyond

It unveils a selection of journeys and experiences of servicemen and descendants from the North-East and captures both the county’s religious and community life by exploring memorials which show the impact of the armistice and the importance of commemoration after the fighting.

These include the stories behind the County War Memorial, the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Chapel, which forms part of the cathedral, and Chorister School memorials in honour of staff and alumni of the school who served and those who lost their lives.

Marie-Thérèse Mayne, exhibitions officer, said: “It is incredibly important to appreciate not only the events during the First World War but also the moment in which peace was restored and the resulting aftermath.

“On returning home, soldiers, prisoners of war and communities across the country had to learn to balance the celebration of peace with commemoration for the tragedy of lives lost.

“There was also the question of what to do with all the demobilised troops, and one million servicemen found themselves unemployed. The world would never be the same again after four long years of conflict.

“This exhibition within Open Treasure portrays many of the stories illustrating the enormity and impact of such a war.”

Around the cathedral itself, visitors will see clear Perspex silhouettes as part of There But Not There, a nationwide installation that places representative figures into community settings to remember names on local war memorials.

The installation in the cathedral has been possible with the support of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust with blocks listing alumni of the Chorister School who lost their lives, supported by Durham Cathedral Choir Association.

The name blocks will be on display within Open Treasure, moving into the cathedral itself for the Remembrance period in November.

The current Dean of Durham, the Very Reverend Andrew Tremlett, said, “Durham Cathedral is always a place for reflection and solace.

“It is most fitting that we are marking the centenary of the Armistice in Open Treasure and with There But Not There.”

The creation of the DLI Chapel in the South Transept of the cathedral followed a proposal first given by Colonel Hugh Bowes in 1921.

The dean said: “We invite visitors to reflect in the chapel, which continues to symbolise the sacrifices made by regional servicemen and women in the armed forces today.”