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Bishops' castle gets £9m lottery grant Bishops' castle gets £9m lottery grant
(about 1 hour later)
Auckland Castle, for almost 900 years a palace of the prince bishops of Durham, is to receive a £9m lottery grant to be developed as a tourist destination with faith at its centre.Auckland Castle, for almost 900 years a palace of the prince bishops of Durham, is to receive a £9m lottery grant to be developed as a tourist destination with faith at its centre.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded the grant for the construction of a two-storey museum extension and to renovate the castle’s state rooms. The heritage lottery fund has awarded the grant for the construction of a two-storey museum extension and to renovate the castle’s state rooms. The work, creating up to 130 jobs, will be a catalyst for the regeneration of Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area.
The work, creating up to 130 jobs, will be a catalyst for the regeneration of Bishop Auckland and the surrounding area.
A spokeswoman said: “The castle has undergone numerous changes over the centuries, but the museum extension – which will house a new and immersive museum experience over 11 galleries exploring the history of faith in the British Isles – and the state room renovations will be among the most visionary and far-reaching undertaken.”A spokeswoman said: “The castle has undergone numerous changes over the centuries, but the museum extension – which will house a new and immersive museum experience over 11 galleries exploring the history of faith in the British Isles – and the state room renovations will be among the most visionary and far-reaching undertaken.”
Auckland Castle was built in the 13th century by Bishop Bek, one of the prince bishops of Durham who were given extensive powers in their north-eastern stronghold by the English king in recognition of the key role they played in Anglo-Scottish wars. Auckland Castle was built in the 13th century by Bishop Bek, one of the prince bishops of Durham, who were given extensive powers in their north-eastern stronghold by the English king in recognition of the key role they played in Anglo-Scottish wars.
It was the principle seat of the bishops of Durham from 1832 until 2012, when it was transferred to the Auckland Castle Trust.It was the principle seat of the bishops of Durham from 1832 until 2012, when it was transferred to the Auckland Castle Trust.
The castle’s appearance is more like a Gothic stately home than a medieval fortification and it houses works of art including paintings of Jacob and his 12 sons by the Spaniard Francisco de Zurbarán.The castle’s appearance is more like a Gothic stately home than a medieval fortification and it houses works of art including paintings of Jacob and his 12 sons by the Spaniard Francisco de Zurbarán.
The museum extension will be built on to the 16th-century Scotland wing. Designed by Niall McLaughlin in association with Purcell, it will echo wooden Anglo-Saxon churches of the 6th and 7th centuries, and was granted planning permission last month.The museum extension will be built on to the 16th-century Scotland wing. Designed by Niall McLaughlin in association with Purcell, it will echo wooden Anglo-Saxon churches of the 6th and 7th centuries, and was granted planning permission last month.
The exhibition will include a permanent multimedia installation of national and international significance presenting works of art and artefacts covering pre-history to the present.The exhibition will include a permanent multimedia installation of national and international significance presenting works of art and artefacts covering pre-history to the present.
Among the items on display will be the Cottingham tank, a Viking lead font that is a fusion of Pagan and Christian beliefs, rare stained-glass panels among the last to be made before the Reformation, and two bronze age swords that were deliberately deposited as votive offerings.Among the items on display will be the Cottingham tank, a Viking lead font that is a fusion of Pagan and Christian beliefs, rare stained-glass panels among the last to be made before the Reformation, and two bronze age swords that were deliberately deposited as votive offerings.
David Ronn, chief executive of the Auckland Castle Trust, said: “The value of this grant to both Auckland Castle and the immediate area cannot be understated. The work it will allow us to do at the castle, and all the activity that will flow from that – job, training and volunteering opportunities – will play a major part in helping to breathe new life into Bishop Auckland.David Ronn, chief executive of the Auckland Castle Trust, said: “The value of this grant to both Auckland Castle and the immediate area cannot be understated. The work it will allow us to do at the castle, and all the activity that will flow from that – job, training and volunteering opportunities – will play a major part in helping to breathe new life into Bishop Auckland.
“Regeneration and growth, both of the castle and the town, has always been central to the trust’s long-term plans, and the development of a new museum wing and the renovation of the castle go to the heart of that.”“Regeneration and growth, both of the castle and the town, has always been central to the trust’s long-term plans, and the development of a new museum wing and the renovation of the castle go to the heart of that.”