Visit to Bishop Auckland

We had a relaxed morning with coffee in the garden before we set off for Bishop Auckland. We found a nice spot by the Wear to park and have our picnic before climbing up the steep hill to the town.

We started at the Spanish Gallery but the volunteer there said we’d not have time to do it and the Prince Bishops Palace as they all closed at 4pm so our visitors chose the Palace which was great, especially the chapel.

The palace went through the history of the prince bishops. A bishop bought the paintings of Joseph and his sons by Zurbaran but when the church was going to sell them off Jonathan Ruffer bought them for the palace. Then he bought the palace, Auckland Castle, and set out on a multi million pound regeneration programme of the town.

It was a great place to go, with beautiful gardens (surplus veg goes to food banks) and a deer park as well as a Faith building. The Spanish gallery, the only gallery in UK dedicated to the Golden Era of Spanish Art, had paintings by Velasquez, El Greco, Murillo and Zuberan. (We bought an annual ticket so that we can go back to see that and the Mining Museum. The visitors got in free on their art pass).

On one way back we took them up to see the Angel of the North close up then went to Long Friday for an early dinner. It was a really tasty treat from our guests.