Private tour of Auckland Castle for SMA Members – 24th October 2015 – BOOKING SITE NOW OPEN

Posted On: July 16th, 2015

Originally established as a medieval hunting lodge, Auckland Castle was the country residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham for more than 900 years. The principal seat of the Bishops of Durham from 1832 and still a working episcopal complex today, it was transferred in 2012 to the Auckland Castle Trust. The charitable foundation is restoring both the castle and grounds and establishing permanent exhibitions on the history of faith and Christianity in Britain and the North East of England. The Trust’s Curatorial and Exhibitions Director, Dr Chris Ferguson, has kindly agreed to lead members of the Society on a tour of the castle, walled garden, and medieval parklands.

The castle is surrounded by 800 acres of parkland originally used by the bishops for hunting, now open to the public and containing seven Grade I listed buildings. Our visit will include St Peter’s Chapel, created in the 17th Century from a 12th Century great hall, the Bishop’s state rooms, including the 17th Century Spanish masterpieces by Francisco de Zurbaran, and an exploration of the medieval fabric of the palace. We will also enjoy a behind-­the­-scenes look at the Medieval kitchens, service wings, 14th Century College buildings, and the early Walled Gardens.

The visit will start at 13.30. ***Places are limited***.  The cost (discounted for SMA members), which includes tea/coffee and cake, is £9.98.  If you wish to attend, please contact the Society’s Membership Secretary, Sarah Kerr, for further details (email: medieval.archaeology@googlemail.com)  or log on to the on-line event booking site here to book your place.