After the Auckland Project was completed in 2021
the crowds arrived to visit the Castle
Bishop Auckland was a small town in County Durham, so much of Durham City's early history seems to have been influenced by the Bishops of Durham and their estate. First established as a hunting lodge, it became the principal country residence for the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham who for centuries were virtual rulers of N.E England. In fact the power of the Prince Bishops of Durham was second only to the English monarchy. Commissioned to defend that monarchy, the Bishops were placed strategically close to the border between England and Scotland, so they needed a home to match their status.
It was no surprise then that they enjoyed Auckland Castle and its lush surroundings as their countryside estate, when the pressures of London, York and Durham became too much. While their role has changed with the passage of time, the Bishop of Durham still has influence in modern life.
The gateway
England's North East
In the subsequent 750 years, 56 different Prince Bishops presided over County Durham as an independent state, answering only to the king and God. But with great power, came great responsibility. Were the Prince Bishops inspiring or deceptive leaders?
St Peter's Chapel
Historic England
St Peter’s Chapel was one of Europe's largest private chapels. Originally a medieval banqueting hall, it replaced the original C12th chapel, later lost in the English Civil War. In the 1660s Bishop Cosin transformed the Great Hall into today’s beautiful sacred space. He added the decorative ceiling, carved woodwork screen and pulpits, to inspire people to feel the glory of God and the beauty of holiness.
Discover the Bishop Trevor Gallery, named after Bishop Richard Trevor (1752-71). In 1756 an English ship seized looted cargo from the Spanish, including the old master paintings. The captured works were sold in England and the only one of the 13 portraits not bought by Durham was that of Benjamin. Bishop Trevor was delighted, having bought the series of paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán (1641-58). They have hung in the Long Dining Room at the Castle 250+ years.
Chairman of Bishop Auckland's Civic Society, Dr Robert McManners, said the timing of the Bishop's purchase was vital. Zurbaran’s income largely came from commissions from the established Spanish Catholic church. Yet the artist meticulously painted these Jewish symbols at a time when the practice of the Jewish religion was outlawed by Papal Bull and enforced by the Spanish Inquisition. McManners noted that Zurbaran had sympathy for oppressed Jewish people in his local community, and admired the great risks that Catholic artist took to his reputation and livelihood. See my blog post or read Robert McManners, The Zurbarans at Auckland Castle, available at Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Discover the Bishop Trevor Gallery, named after Bishop Richard Trevor (1752-71). In 1756 an English ship seized looted cargo from the Spanish, including the old master paintings. The captured works were sold in England and the only one of the 13 portraits not bought by Durham was that of Benjamin. Bishop Trevor was delighted, having bought the series of paintings of Jacob and his Twelve Sons by Francisco de Zurbarán (1641-58). They have hung in the Long Dining Room at the Castle 250+ years.
Chairman of Bishop Auckland's Civic Society, Dr Robert McManners, said the timing of the Bishop's purchase was vital. Zurbaran’s income largely came from commissions from the established Spanish Catholic church. Yet the artist meticulously painted these Jewish symbols at a time when the practice of the Jewish religion was outlawed by Papal Bull and enforced by the Spanish Inquisition. McManners noted that Zurbaran had sympathy for oppressed Jewish people in his local community, and admired the great risks that Catholic artist took to his reputation and livelihood. See my blog post or read Robert McManners, The Zurbarans at Auckland Castle, available at Bishop Auckland Town Hall
The Guardian
Bishop Trevor and other bishops had sponsored the Jewish Naturalisation Act of 1753 which gave disenfranchised immigrant Jews, often escaping persecution in their own countries, the same rights as those born in England. Alas this progressive legislation was repealed the next year, and soon the Durham bishop bought the paintings! Dr McManners believed Bishop Trevor and Francisco de Zurbaran were both thumbing their noses at their Establishment Churches.
**
In 2001 money was short and Durham's Church Commissioners decided to cash in their easily sold art assets, for £20m. While those with a sense of national history and art heritage wanted to keep the collection together in the Church. It took 9 years of intense lobbying before the commissioners conceded, due to a £15m donation by art collector-investment manager Jonathan Ruffer via a new charity, the Zurbarán Trust. His gallery opened in 2021.
The Castle is one of the best preserved Bishops’ palaces in Europe, sitting at the heart of multi-million conservation Auckland Project which started in 2012 and continued until 2019. The goal was to coordinate the collection of galleries, gardens and parkland, all organised around Auckland Castle. After discovering the C18th wall colourings, furniture and textiles that decorated this elegant castle, they were restored to their former luxury. The team of restorers and conservators showed the scope of the power, wealth, influence and faith held by the residents. The most major conservations occurred when the State Rooms were restored to their original Georgian Gothic splendour, as designed by architect James Wyatt. Now the Prince Bishops’ private residence at Auckland Castle is revealing 8 centuries of opulence and influence, seen in 1,000 years of forgotten political, economic and religious history!
Apart from the stunning castle/Bishop’s Palace, the town (pop 24,000) has a thriving arts and cultural centre – library, cinema, theatre, arts complex and specialist boutiques.
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20 comments:
I have long admired Zurbaran's paintings, but I wonder why the Bishop of Durham decided to buy them and move them to the UK? Where did the money come from?
Auckland Castle stands today as a remarkable testament to the power, faith, and legacy of the Prince Bishops of Durham, whose centuries of influence shaped the political, cultural, and spiritual life of northern England
Hello Hels, When I saw your first photo of Auckland Castle, I wasn't sure whether it was a restoration or a reconstruction. The glass in the windows doesn't add to the illusion of antiquity, but perhaps the angle of the sun at that moment is partially responsible. At any rate, I would love to visit the castle and its treasures, and also the surrounding area. I had to look at a map of England to discover that Bishop Auckland is very far north of London, but not that far from Raby Castle, another place that I have long wanted to see, so perhaps on some future trip.
--Jim
Joe
I wrote that Zurbaran painted these powerful Jewish symbols at a time when the practice of the Jewish religion was totally threatened the Spanish Inquisition. If it is true that Zurbaran had sympathy for oppressed Jewish people in his local community, then the English Bishop may well have admired the great risks that Catholic Spanish artist took. In other words, he was symbolising the need for social, political and religious understanding between UK Christians and Jews. Have you found any another opinion?
The cost was £15 million when Jonathan Ruffer paid for the Zurbarans a few years ago. Quite a lot for the 18th century Bishop, I would imagine.
roentare
each of the Prince Bishops of Durham must have been very important religiously and politically, true! But was all that power exerted just inside their own county or across the entire country? Certainly the Prince Bishops’ lands in Palatine and Yorkshire were shires owned by the Bishop where he had serious powers and privileges.
Parnassus
the bishop in each generation was able to add or change any element of the architecture, decoration or estate as he wanted. But I don't know about any major documented reconstruction since Norman times.
Raby Castle is one of the most impressive intact castles anywhere and well worth visiting for its history, architecture and walled gardens. [And it is only only 30ks from Durham]. One Baron Neville built Raby Castle by 1390. The castle played an important role in both the Wars of the Roses (mid C15th) and the English Civil War (mid C17th)
Hi Hels
Thanks for the interesting read. I will have to put it in my diary to go to Auckland Palace.
I read your other blog about the Zurbaran paintings and it's fascinating Jewish connection (as you say amidst the inquisition's high-point) .
It makes me blood boil whenever I read of some estate's accountants suggesting they sell their artworks to raise some funds. The problem is that galleries and museums can't compete with major hedgefunds and financiers so they get to hoard them,.
Thanks for giving me somehting to go on my to do list.
Liam 😊
Liam
I loved Zurbaran's paintings long before I knew about Auckland Palace and I already understood the Spaniard was a devout Catholic. Since Catholics accepted the Old Testament as divinely inspired, it didn't surprise me when Zurbaran spent years painting Jacob and his Twelve Sons. Do go and see them!
But I had no idea about the following: "A wealthy and influential patron, Bishop Trevor acquired twelve of the paintings at auction. At the same time, he was transforming the rooms of Auckland Palace into a home befitting his wealth, status and taste. Having been outbid for the thirteenth painting, he commissioned the prominent English artist Arthur Pond to make an exact copy".
https://aucklandproject.org/discover/the-zurbarans-of-auckland-palace/
I had not heard of Auckland Palace and I have visited Durham but it was by train. It seems the Bishop of Durham doesn't have many powers left; a seat in the House of Lords and escorts the sovereign at a coronation.
Bishop Cosin guaranteed his mark would be left on the chapel at Auckland Castle via his coat of arms. It can be seen on the very decorative chapel ceiling.
Coat of Arms
True! After the Restoration, Cosin returned to England and was raised to the See of Durham in 1660. In the Auckland Castle the new Bishop found the chapel was looking sad so he renovated it and added the coat of arms - with its coronet and mitre.
I watched a show on TV about how the Normans didn't just walk into England and suddenly take it over. I don't know why I thought they did; I guess I just didn't really think about it. But it is interesting hope there were hold out areas. Thanks for the interesting post. Hope your week is going well.
It is great that it was restored.
I love the dining table and the life size art on the wall, oh to sit there and look at them would have been wonderful.
Good post Hels, as always.
Erika
I agree that is true, in the Norman Conquest in England and in many other invasions around Europe, the Middle East and Asia. But the implications for William the Conqueror perhaps weren't as analysed as we originally thought. As soon William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey, he tried to defeat the English nobility. Where that was not possible, he had to placate the stubborn nobles. Nowhere was that clearer than in and near Durham.
Margaret
all the Bishops were ambitious and self serving, but Bishop Trevor was so keen to show off his wealth and status in the Auckland Palace rooms, he was going to get the paintings he wanted .. at any cost! Thank goodness, as it turned out :)
Andrew
although the Bishop of Durham retains all his powers as a religious authority, and sits in the House of Lords as you say, he lost all his political powers.
The bishop still has the right to use his section of Durham Castle, but the powers of his earliest ancestors have long been withdrawn. They had their own army, parliament, court system, tax system and mint.
Another interesting history lesson.
diane
history rarely stops developing the minute it is first published. So I am finding that even if we know a lot about a topic, that doesn't mean we shouldn't look around the academic journals, the internet and the blogosphere 5 or 10 years later. I am so thankful to other bloggers and writers for encouraging new thinking.
This was another interesting post
Jo-Anne
The story fascinated me, not because the architecture and estate were so amazing, but because Bishops are not often granted full military and political powers, as well as religious.
Now I will have to read more history on Raby Castle, even though I know what it looks like.
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