Auckland Castle renamed Auckland Palace

Auckland Castle – the historic residence of the Prince Bishops of Durham – is to be renamed Auckland Palace, it was announced today.

The palace is part of the Auckland Project in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, a multi-site cultural destination that includes the Faith Museum, the Spanish Gallery and Mining Art Gallery.

The palace recently completed the biggest phase of development for centuries, which included major restoration and conservation work between 2016-2019 and the opening of the Faith Museum in a new extension to the 14th-century Scotland Wing last year.

“We’re immensely proud that this magnificent site will finally be known as Auckland Palace, and we are excited for more people to discover the role that Auckland Palace has played in Britain’s history,” said Edward Perry, the chief executive officer of The Auckland Project.

“Where once this was a palace just for the Prince Bishops, now everyone can come to explore the magnificent rooms, wander through the gardens, admire art or attend an event. Who knows what the next 900 years will have in store?”

The first Prince Bishop of Durham was appointed in 1075 after unsuccessful attempts by William the Conqueror to govern the border region between England and Scotland. The bishops were given secular powers – such as being able to raise armies, mint their own coins and levy taxes – in return for allegiance to England. 

Built more than 900 years ago, Auckland Palace began as a manor then became a fortified castle in the medieval period. In the late 18^th-century, the architect James Wyatt transformed the site into a grand palace by building a series of state rooms and enhancing the exterior and grounds.

It became the sole residence of the Bishop of Durham in 1836, and around that time began to be referred to as a palace in newspaper reports.