Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland (2001) (photo Mike Hein-Hartmann) 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © DCC 2007


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © Ryder, P 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © Ryder, P 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © Ryder, P 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © Ryder, P 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © Ryder, P 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © DCC 2001


Auckland Castle © DCC 2006


Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland © DCC 2006

Bishop Auckland was the site of one of the homes of the Bishops of Durham. Towards the end of the medieval period the Palace or Castle at Bishop Auckland became the Prince Bishops of Durham principal country residence, and remains the home of the Bishop of Durham today. The Cuthbert Community at Durham had owned land in the Auckland from a very early date, and by 1183, the date of the Boldon Book, it is clear that Bishop Auckland had long been an episcopal residence, although the house was always termed a manor until a 1489 reference to the 'Castel or Manor of Auckland'. It seems clear that the buildings were enclosed within some sort of perimeter wall; an account roll for the fifth year of Bishop Richard de Bury (1337-1338) recorded payments for work on 'the great stone wall on the west side of the Manor House' and there are records of the main gatehouse being built by Bishop Skirlaw (1388-1405) and rebuilt by Bishop Booth (1457-1476), who founded a college within the precincts, and again by Bishop Trevor (1732-1771). The greatest changes suffered by the house came with the English Civil War, when parts of the building, including its chapels, were demolished by Sir Arthur Haslerigg. The first post-Restoration bishop was the redoubtable John Cosin, who refashioned the former hall as a new chapel.

After the English Civil War, this castle was sold to Sir Arthur Haselrigg, who pulled down the chapel and built a mansion house, which itself was pulled down in the late 17th century. The walls would also appear to have been destroyed during Hasleriggs' brief but destructive tenure.

This castle stands on a promontory site above the confluence of the Rivers Wear and Gaunless, to the east of the town of Bishop Auckland, and its precinct forms a roughly rectangular area approximately 300 by 160 m, in the centre of which stand the irregular group of buildings that make up the house. There is a central north-south block which is of 14th century date although quite heavily disguised by later alterations; at the north end of this is the aisled hall of late 12th or early 13th century date, and since the 17th century the Chapel of St Peter. Some remains of a service wing at its east end are now incorporated into terrace and garden walls. Towards the south end of the main north-south block a long and narrow wing known as 'Scotland', extending to the west, is usually claimed to be of early 16th century date.

Some archaeological investigation has been conducted here in the recent past, but records of it are hard to trace. Archaeological Excavation in 1979-83 revealed evidence of what appeared to be a south porch to the original hall, and a 15th century fireplace inside it, but there is still more to learn about the site.

More recently, work has been carried out as the site has been developed as a visitor attraction.