Trifter

AUCKLAND Castle, formerly the country home of the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham is now the principal residence of their successors since 1838, the Bishops of Durham.

These men were appointed to rule the north for the king. The Norman and early Plantagenet Kings knew that they had virtually established Normandy as an independent state in France. They would not allow a powerful subject to do the same to their realm. Communications between London and the north were difficult and they knew if they appointed one of the local families, Percy, Neville or Raby as regent, a dynasty may emerge. A bishop could not have legitimate heirs, so there was no chance of a inherited position. The Prince Bishops were given the power to raise their own armies and navies. They were allowed to appoint judges and mint their own coinage. They had the judiciary power of pit and gallows. One power that they had and which even the king did not possess was the authority to excommunicate people from the church.

Auckland Castle is recorded in the Boldon Buke as an Episcopal residence as far back as 1183 and they used it as a place to rest and hunt. Hunting developed as a noble’s sport in the Royal Forests.

Permission to create a deer park could only be conferred by Royal Licence and the Prince Bishops were thought to have owned 19 deer parks in Co Durham.

The Chapel is one of the largest private chapels in Europe and the Bishop’s Grand Banqueting Hall and the staterooms are open to the public.

Auckland Castle Park developed from the Medieval deer park. A series of stock or fish ponds still exist below the slopes to the north of the castle. Fish were an important supplement to the limited medieval diet, especially during the winter or times of religious fasts, such as Lent.

It had a swannery which was referred to in a survey of 1388. A Mr Richey billed the bishop for repairing the ponds for my lord’s signetts in 1872.

Auckland Castle and Park stands near the market town of Bishop Auckland, overlooking the River Wear in the south east of County Durham.

The castle has wheelchair access to the ground floor, chapel and toilet. A stair walker is available by private arrangement. Disabled access is difficult in the gardens.

Auckland Castle Park is open from 07:00 until sunset daily and admission is free.

The park can be contacted on 01388 765555 for details while the phone number for the castle is 01388 601627..