A TOWN
REBORN
Imposing – The magnificent Auckland Castle .
How Bishop Auckland is building on its proud history to create an exciting new chapter
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
Philanthropist – The Auckland Project ' s Jonathan Ruffer .
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Our aim is to make Bishop Auckland ’ s future even more vibrant than its past .”
It ’ s a bold statement , given that this County Durham town was once home to the immensely powerful Prince Bishops who were second in importance only to the king .
But now – as the statement taken from a successful Stronger Towns Fund application indicates – dynamic plans are underway to get Bishop Auckland out of the shadows , having fallen on relatively tough times when the coal mines closed , and re-establish itself as one of the jewels in the North-East ’ s crown .
And at the heart of those plans is The Auckland Project – a unique collection of heritage attractions , galleries and gardens , centred around Auckland Castle and which are acting as a catalyst for the town ’ s forward direction of travel .
Bishop Auckland is a town with a proud history and thanks to massive investment from a generous philanthropist , coupled with imaginative plans for the town itself , that sense of pride is being rapidly restored .
Through a series of initiatives , The Auckland Project and partners are working with the council and local people to make the town a better place to live , work and invest in – and with a view to attracting more than 1.5m visitors by 2029 .
But how is it being done ?
A PROUD HISTORY Sitting 12 miles north-west of Darlington and 12 miles south-west of Durham , the earliest known reference to Bishop Auckland dates from around 1000 AD as land given to the Earl of Northumberland – and , in 1020 AD , as a gift to the Bishop of Durham for defending the church against King Canute .
For centuries it was home to the Prince Bishops . And when coal became king , mines in the area helped power the region ’ s economy and provided countless jobs .
It was a thriving market town at the heart of the Durham coalfield . When the mines began to close , however , as with many North-East communities , economic and social decline followed .
Now , though , the town and surrounding area are being transformed thanks to substantial investment and a “ can-do ” attitude among its people .
A TIME OF CHANGE Everything changed in 2012-13 when Auckland Castle – the historical palace