Castles · North East England
Auckland Castle
In or near Eldon Lane.
Auckland Castle — castle in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Bishop Auckland · 1.1 km
- Paid entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Auckland Castle, the nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland, located 1.1 km away. Entry is paid, and wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is DL14 7NR.
About
Auckland Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1183. Built in the Gothic Revival style. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Owned by English Heritage. Managed by English Heritage. Part of Auckland Project. Address: DL14 7NR. Wikidata describes it as: "castle in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England, UK". Coordinates: 54.6664°, -1.6706°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Auckland Castle, also known as Auckland Palace, is a former bishop's palace located in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England. The castle was a residence of the bishops of Durham from approximately 1183 and was their primary residence between 1832 and 2012, when the castle and its contents were sold to the Auckland Castle Trust (now the Auckland Project). It is now a tourist attraction, but still houses the bishop's offices. The castle is notable for its chapel, described as "one of the finest rooms in North East England" in the Buildings of England series, which was the medieval great hall until it was remodelled by Bishop John Cosin in 1661–1665. The woodwork, which includes the pulpit, stalls, and screen, was commissioned by Cosin and combines Gothic and Baroque forms.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Auckland Palace, formerly known as Auckland Castle, is a well-preserved Bishop's palace with a history spanning nearly 1,000 years. Visitors can explore various restored rooms, including the Throne Room and the Long Dining Room, and learn about the influential Prince Bishops of Durham. The recently opened Faith Museum offers insights into the site's spiritual heritage and its historical significance.
Read more on the official property page.
From the Wikipedia article
Auckland Castle, also known as Auckland Palace, is a former bishop's palace located in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England. The castle was a residence of the bishops of Durham from approximately 1183 and was their primary residence between 1832 and 2012, when the castle and its contents were sold to the Auckland Castle Trust (now the Auckland Project). It is now a tourist attraction, but still houses the bishop's offices. The castle is notable for its chapel, described as "one of the finest rooms in North East England" in the Buildings of England series, which was the medieval great hall until it was remodelled by Bishop John Cosin in 1661–1665. The woodwork, which includes the pulpit, stalls, and screen, was commissioned by Cosin and combines Gothic and Baroque forms. The castle also contains twelve paintings depicting Jacob and His Twelve Sons by the Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán; the thirteenth portrait, Benjamin, is a copy, as the original hangs in Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire. Auckland Castle is a grade I listed building.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Auckland Castle occupies an area of flat ground between the River Gaunless and River Wear, south of their confluence. The town of Bishop Auckland abuts the castle to the west, and on the other three sides the land falls away steeply to the rivers. The present chapel survives from his building, where it served as the great hall. After the disestablishment of the Church of England at the end of the First English Civil War in 1646, Auckland Castle was sold to Sir Arthur Haselrig, who demolished much of the medieval building, including the original two-storey chapel, and built a mansion. After the Restoration of the Monarchy, Bishop John Cosin in turn demolished Hazelrigg's mansion and rebuilt…
Description
The castle grounds are entered from Bishop Auckland marketplace through the clock tower, which was built in 1760 by Bishop Trevor in the Gothick style. The range which flanks it to the right incorporates the remains of the south range of the fifteenth century college mentioned above; the north and east ranges behind also survive in part.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 54.6664, -1.6706
- District
- County Durham
- Parish
- Bishop Auckland
- Postcode
- DL14 7NR
- Parliamentary constituency
- Bishop Auckland
- Phone
- +44 1388 743 750
- Established
- 1183
- Nearest railway station
- Bishop Auckland — 1.1 km
- Opening
- Daily 10:30am–4:00pm; last entry 3:30pm
- Official site
- www.aucklandproject.org
Sources
- wikidata: Q4819493 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Auckland Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Auckland Castle Crop.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Faith Museum
Museums · 0.0 km
Chapel of St Peter at Auckland Castle
Chapels · 0.1 km
Auckland Castle west mural tower and west walls
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
11, Market Place
Historic houses · 0.1 km
Bishop Auckland Castle
Castles · 0.1 km
War Memorial in Front of Number 45 Market Place
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
Mining Art Gallery
Galleries · 0.2 km
Breaking Bread Kitchen and Bakehouse
Cafés · 0.2 km
Bishop Auckland Town Hall Arts Centre
Theatres · 0.2 km
5, Market Place
Historic pubs · 0.2 km
Spanish Gallery
Galleries · 0.2 km
Bridge Over River Gaunless
Historic bridges · 0.2 km
Nearby
📷 3Museums · North East England
Faith Museum
Faith Museum — a museum in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Chapels · North East England
Chapel of St Peter at Auckland Castle
Chapel of St Peter at Auckland Castle — Grade I listed chapel in County Durham, England, UK.
📷 3Memorials & monuments · North East England
Auckland Castle west mural tower and west walls
Auckland Castle west mural tower and west walls — Grade I listed building-listed memorial in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 3Historic houses · North East England
11, Market Place
11, Market Place — Grade II* listed house in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England, UK.
📷 5Castles · North East England
Bishop Auckland Castle
Bishop Auckland Castle — a castle in scotland lowlands.
📷 3Memorials & monuments · North East England
War Memorial in Front of Number 45 Market Place
War Memorial in Front of Number 45 Market Place — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in scotland-lowlands, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Auckland Castle
Places to stay
📷 5Campsites · North East England
Gurney Valley Traveller stop over area
Gurney Valley Traveller stop over area — a campsite in scotland lowlands.
📷 5Hotels · North East England
Thomas Wright House Hotel
Thomas Wright House Hotel — a hotel in scotland lowlands.
📷 7Hotels · North East England
The Manor House Hotel & Country Club
The Manor House Hotel & Country Club — a hotel in scotland lowlands.
📷 5Caravan parks · North East England
Middridge Meadows
Middridge Meadows — a caravan park in scotland lowlands.
📷 5Caravan parks · North East England
Meadow Farm Caravan Park and Campsite
Meadow Farm Caravan Park and Campsite — a caravan park in scotland lowlands.
📷 5Caravan parks · North East England
Country View Caravan & Camping Site
Country View Caravan & Camping Site — a caravan park in england north east.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5Cafés · North East England
Breaking Bread Kitchen and Bakehouse
Breaking Bread Kitchen and Bakehouse — a café in scotland lowlands.
📷 5Historic pubs · North East England
5, Market Place
5, Market Place in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · North East England
Coopers Public House
Coopers Public House in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · North East England
Bay Horse Public House
Bay Horse Public House in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · North East England
Green Tree Public House
Green Tree Public House in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · North East England
Henknowle Manor Public House
Henknowle Manor Public House in Scotland Lowlands, United Kingdom.
More places run by English Heritage
Flagship📷 10Museums · London
Kenwood House
Kenwood House — art museum and historic house in Hampstead, London.
📷 5Galleries · London
Apsley House
Apsley House — London townhouse of the Dukes of Wellington.
📷 5Castles · London
Eynsford Castle
Eynsford Castle — castle, now ruinous, in Eynsford, Kent, England, UK.
📷 5Museums · London
Jewel Tower
Jewel Tower — medieval tower in Westminster, London, England, UK.
Other castles from this era
📷 5Castles · South East England
Allington Castle
Allington Castle — stone-built moated castle in Allington, England.
📷 5Castles · South East England
Guildford Castle
Guildford Castle — castle in Guildford, Surrey, England, UK.
📷 5Castles · South East England
Rochester Castle
Rochester Castle — castle in Rochester, Kent, South East England.
📷 5Castles · South East England
Arundel Castle
Arundel Castle — castle in West Sussex, England, UK.
More castles in this region
📷 3Castles · North East England
Scargill Castle
Scargill Castle — house in Scargill, County Durham, England, UK.
📷 3Castles · North East England
Roper Castle or Round Table (Roman Signal Station)
Roper Castle or Round Table (Roman Signal Station) — a castle in england-north-west, United Kingdom.
📷 5
📷 5Castles · North East England
Appleby Castle
Appleby Castle — Grade I listed English country house in Appleby-in-Westmorland, United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Auckland Castle?
- Auckland Castle is in the Scottish Lowlands, United Kingdom (postcode DL14 7NR), in the parish of Bishop Auckland.
- What is Auckland Castle?
- Auckland Castle — castle in the town of Bishop Auckland in County Durham, England, UK.
- How do I get to Auckland Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland, about 1.1 km away. Drivers can use postcode DL14 7NR.
- When was Auckland Castle built?
- Built or established in 1183.
- Who runs Auckland Castle?
- Auckland Castle is operated by English Heritage.
- Is Auckland Castle a listed building?
- Auckland Castle is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Does Auckland Castle charge admission?
- Auckland Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Auckland Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland, about 1.1 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DL14 7NR.