Auckland Castle

This gateway was part of the extensive remodelling carried out to the house and grounds by Bishop Richard Trevor. This work was interrupted on his death but was later continued by Bishop Shute Barrington who commissioned James Wyatt to work on the building in 1794 - 96.

The splendid Gothic screen to the entrance courtyard is part of Wyatt's work.

The L-shaped, yellow sandstone house has a medieval hall range facing north, with the much altered residential apartments to the left.

The aisled Hall is the oldest part of the house to survive and was built in the second half of the 12th century by Bishop Hugh Pudsey.

In 1662 - 65 the Hall was was converted into a Chapel by Bishop John Cosin. After the Interregnum the high church bishop wished to restore the splendour of the see and the Chapel is reputely the largest private chapel in Europe. The alterations were carried out by John Langstaffe, a local mason, and included the addition of a celestory and the refacing of the exterior with embellished blocks of masonry.

The interior contains contemporary, neo-medieval dark oak woodwork. The visitor enters the house through Wyatt's porch and from here a ceremonial route leads to the state rooms on the first floor of the west block.

These rooms, which occupy the site of the medieval great chamber, were redecorated by Wyatt and represent one of the best sequences of late-18th century Gothic rooms to survive intact in England.

At the top of the staircase are two late-17th century paintings which depict Auckland Castle as it was before the Georgian alterations. The large Gothic window provides a superb view over the Wear valley below.

From here the visitor passes through the octagonal Ante-Room, with Gothic niches and a plaster vault, into the splendid Throne Room. This contains the splendid throne designed by Wyatt with its ogee-topped niche.

The walls are lined with a collection of episcopal portraits, including a painting of Bishop Barrington by Lawrence. The adjoining Dining Room, added in the early-16th century, was redecorated by Bishop Trevor in 1760.

On the walls are a series of splendid canvases, depicting Jacob and his sons, painted by Zurbaran in 1640 and acquired by Bishop Trevor in 1756.

In the medieval kitchens is an exhibition dedicated to the life of St Cuthbert and the history of the Durham diocese.

Auckland Castle is set in a wooded park overlooking the River Wear.

The Bishop's Park contains an unusual Gothic deercote. This charming building dates from 1767 and was part of Bishop Trevor's alterations to the house and grounds. The deer house was erected so that the deer could shelter and find food and this building is now in the care of English Heritage.