Bishop Auckland: County Durham Market Town With a Prince Bishops' Palace and a Zurbarán Collection
Bishop Auckland sits on the River Wear in southwest County Durham, about 10 miles southwest of Durham city. The population is around 25,000. The town's principal landmark is Auckland Castle, the residence of the Bishops of Durham (historically known as the Prince Bishops) since the 12th century. The castle contains a dining room hung with a complete set of twelve Jacob and His Sons paintings by the Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán, purchased by Bishop Trevor in 1756. The Auckland Project, backed by financier Jonathan Rutter, has invested heavily in the castle and surrounding buildings, opening a Spanish Gallery and a Mining Art Gallery. The Market Place, one of the larger town squares in County Durham, hosts markets on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The town centre along Newgate Street and Fore Bondgate runs from the castle grounds down to the Market Place. The Wear Valley stretches south toward Weardale and the North Pennines. Bishop Auckland station is on the Bishop Line from Darlington, with services taking about 15 minutes, and connections there to the East Coast Main Line for London and Edinburgh. The A688 connects northeast to the A1(M) at junction 58, and the A689 heads west into Weardale. For those considering adult companionship in southwest Durham, Bishop Auckland's rail link to Darlington and road connections to the A1(M) provide access to the wider North East.
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Bishop Auckland sits on the River Wear in southwest County Durham, about 10 miles southwest of Durham city. The population is around 25,000. The town's principal landmark is Auckland Castle, the residence of the Bishops of Durham (historically known as the Prince Bishops) since the 12th century. The castle contains a dining room hung with a complete set of twelve Jacob and His Sons paintings by the Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán, purchased by Bishop Trevor in 1756. The Auckland Project, backed by financier Jonathan Rutter, has invested heavily in the castle and surrounding buildings, opening a Spanish Gallery and a Mining Art Gallery. The Market Place, one of the larger town squares in County Durham, hosts markets on Thursdays and Saturdays.
The town centre along Newgate Street and Fore Bondgate runs from the castle grounds down to the Market Place. The Wear Valley stretches south toward Weardale and the North Pennines. Bishop Auckland station is on the Bishop Line from Darlington, with services taking about 15 minutes, and connections there to the East Coast Main Line for London and Edinburgh. The A688 connects northeast to the A1(M) at junction 58, and the A689 heads west into Weardale. For those considering adult companionship in southwest Durham, Bishop Auckland's rail link to Darlington and road connections to the A1(M) provide access to the wider North East.
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