Issue 45 Feb 25 web - Flipbook - Page 86
Auckland Castle:
A beacon for community
regeneration
Little of Auckland Castle today hints at medieval origins or ecclesiastical importance spanning back a
thousand years. Yet, as the seat of the once mighty ‘Prince Bishops’ of Durham, it is one of the north
east’s most significant historic buildings.
The castle and its grounds were acquired privately in 2012
to lead the charge in establishing Bishop Auckland as a
cultural destination. The ‘Auckland Castle Project’ was
initiated to transform the castle into a vibrant centre for
arts, culture and heritage in the region. Made possible by
National Lottery heritage funding, its two central
elements were a comprehensive Purcell-led programme
of conservation to safeguard the building fabric, and the
creation of a national museum exploring the impact of
faith on British history, designed by Niall McLaughlin
Architects.
technical decisions could be taken to both respect and
enhance the castle’s importance. The first major phase of
works therefore involved the repair and conservation of
the castle, the restoration, upgrading and re-presentation
of its state rooms and devising new visitor facilities. These
works upgraded all the mechanical, electrical, security
services throughout the castle, including new lifts and
ramps to facilitate level-access and conservation repairs
to the floors, walls, windows, joinery and doors. The construction work uncovered several lost Tudor-era features,
including a serving hatch and fireplace, and wallpapers
from the 1720s. This funding also enabled the creation of
a new extension to the Scotland Wing to house the Faith
Museum and an environmentally controlled art store.
Honouring the past, building for the future
Purcell’s initial Conservation Management Plan
established a framework within which philosophical and
Above, the Long Dining Hall (c) Paul White
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