Bishop Auckland has a rich history and heritage from its earliest Roman beginnings through its occupation by the Prince Bishops of Durham to its major expansion as an industrial town in the 19th century and as a thriving commercial centre in the 20th century. Now in the 21st century it is moving towards a culture and tourism-driven economy with the restoration of Auckland Castle and creation of new visitor attractions within historic buildings in the Market Place.
In 2018 Bishop Auckland was given Heritage Action Zone status and a programme of work is underway to rejuvenate public spaces and help bring vacant historic buildings back into use. To help inform this work a Historic Area Assessment is almost completed and will be published in 2021. The full report will help you to explore the history, development, character and significance of the town through architectural and archaeological investigation.
You can get a taste of what we have found out by opening our digital story map and discovering for yourself what the Architectural Investigators have uncovered. Take a journey back in time exploring the various architectural styles and building types that form the rich history and architectural legacy of Bishop Auckland.
To follow the Story Map or download it and walk the route then visit: https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/heritage-action-zones/bishop-auckland/
