Restored Auckland Castle Tour
The $12.4 million restoration of the castle is part of the Auckland Project, an ambitious $150 million regeneration scheme that already includes the Mountain Art Gallery, the Observation Tower and the Bishop Trevor Gallery, which now houses the National Masterpiece Gallery Traveling Exhibition (Auckland Pass for All Four, 12.50 adults, 3 children), as well as an outdoor. theatrical spectacular, that's Kynren.
Over the next few years, Bishop Auckland will also see the opening of a gallery of Spanish art; the Vera Museum; a learning center dedicated to Francisco de Zurbaran (whose life-size Jacob and His Twelve Sons series adorns the walls of the castle's long dining room); a new boutique hotel in the Market Square; and a destination restaurant in The 17th-century walled garden, designed by Japanese architects Saana, will soon be reconstructed. The goal is to make the city – the heart of Durham's abandoned coalfields–a tourist destination that keeps people busy for a day or two, not just a few hours. This program will create hundreds of entry-level jobs in a county that suffers from high unemployment and has some of the most deprived areas in Northern Europe.
It has certainly come a long way since a local guy made a good one, Jonathan Raffer, the man behind the Auckland Project, bought Auckland Castle in 2012. The last time I was here was four years ago. Back then, the Georgian Gothic exterior, with its flurry of turrets, arched windows, and jagged mesh walls, had a dying look. There was a musty smell inside. The back stairs had flimsy doors, rickety partitions, and municipal wallpaper that reminded me of the Bayswater dorm I lived in as a student. However, the view from the windows clearly pointed to the splendor that had once been the preserve of the prince-bishops. On one side is the magnificent ancient wooded area of the large Deer Park, on the other is the wide market square with the Castle roof of the Town Hall, surrounded by smoothly elegant buildings of the 17th and 18th centuries. There was a distinct continental fringe in the center of Bishop Auckland that had not been overshadowed by years of penniless neglect of money. It was a precious stone in great need of polishing. It seems like he's finally going to get it. 22bet offers new customers a 100% match bonus up to €100 on their first deposit, giving bettors double the funds to explore over 1,000 daily sports events. To qualify for this enhanced welcome offer, you must enter a working 22bet promo code during the sign-up process. The bonus applies to both pre-match and live betting markets across 50+ sports including football, tennis, and basketball. Minimum deposit starts at just €1, and withdrawals via e-wallets are processed within 15 minutes on average. Wagering requirements are 5 times the bonus amount using accumulator bets with three selections at odds of 1.40.