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Auckland Castle

Faith Museum

Auckland Gardens

Spanish Gallery

Mining Art Gallery

Auckland Tower

Deer Park

Weardale Railway

Kynren

Binchester

The Story of
Bishop Auckland

With a glorious past, Bishop Auckland is set for an even brighter future…

A walk through Bishop Auckland means a walk through history: pass by the spot where Stan Laurel learnt his craft on stage in his hometown before hitting Hollywood, spot where Enlightenment astronomer Thomas Wright went to school, stand in a Roman bathhouse at a fort dating back 2000 years at Binchester, visit the Anglo Saxon church at nearby Escomb, and step on board a heritage train to Stanhope at the railway station.

75
Binchester Roman Fort

Binchester Roman Fort is founded, once one of the largest Roman military installations in Britain

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675
Anglo-Saxon Church

Escomb Saxon Church is built, two miles west of Bishop Auckland, probably using stones from the Roman Fort. It is one of only three complete Saxon churches in Britain

1075
Prince Bishops of Durham

William Walcher becomes the first Prince Bishop of Durham, appointed by William the Conqueror

1308
Auckland Castle

Bishop Bek turns his manor house into Auckland Castle, which becomes the country residence of the Prince Bishops

1648
English Civil War

Auckland Castle’s medieval chapel is blown up by SIR Arthur Haselrig following the English Civil War.

1665
Restoration of the Monarchy

Auckland Castle’s medieval great hall is converted into a new chapel by Bishop Cosin following the Restoration of the Monarchy

1756
Zurbarán Paintings

Bishop Trevor purchases the Zurbarán paintings for the Dining Room at Auckland Castle

1825
Birth of the Railways

The world’s first passenger railway station is opened in Shildon, as part of the Darlington to Stockton railway line.

1836
Last Prince Bishop

Bishop Van Mildert dies and the role of Prince Bishops is abolished, but Auckland Castle remains the home of the Bishop of Durham

1864
Coal is King

Auckland Park Colliery opens on the edge of Bishop Auckland as the coal mining industry in County Durham continues to expand

1891
Stan Laurel

Stanley Arthur Jefferson, better known as Stan Laurel, is baptised in St Peter’s Church, Bishop Auckland and goes on to attend James I Grammar School in the town

1909
Football Focus

West Auckland Football team win the first ever World Cup, representing England, and repeated their success again in 1911

1968
Industrial Decline

The demise of the Durham Coalfield saw the last deep colliery in the area close in 1968, resulting in a sustained period of economic and industrial decline.

2012
The Auckland Project

Regeneration charity The Auckland Project is founded by Jonathan Ruffer and a new chapter in the history of Bishop Auckland begins…

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