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'Bishop Auckland' is a market town in County Durham in North East England. It is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Darlington and 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Durham City at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless. According to the 2001 census, Bishop Auckland has a population of 24,392. Bishop Auckland has a town-twinning with the French town of Ivry-sur-Seine51.
History
Toponymy
The first part of the name, "Bishop", refers to the town being the residence of the Bishop of Durham. However, the derivation of "Auckland" is thought to be less clear. One suggestion is that it is derived from "''Alclit''"8 or "''Alcleat''". This could be Celtic in origin referring to its position close to what is today known as the River Gaunless, or from it being extra land granted to the Bishop of Durham by King Canute in around 10208. A further suggestion is that "''Oakland''", has been used to refer to the presence of forests31.
Early history
The earliest known reference to Bishop Auckland itself is as a gift of a Bishop's borough given to the Bishop of Durham as a gift by King Canute in around 1020. However, a village almost certainly existed on the town's present site long before this, with there being a church in South Church from as early as Saxon times. Furthermore, the Romans had a look-out post where Auckland Castle is sited today and a 10 acre (0.04 km²) fort at nearby Binchester.
Much of the town's earliest history surrounds its links with the Bishops of Durham. In 1083, monks were sent from Durham Cathedral to establish a collegiate church, and in around 1183 Bishop Pudsey established a manor house in the town[2]. Bishop Bek who preferred the town as his main residence over Durham Castle due to its proximity to hunting grounds later converted the manor house into a castle.
Industrial revolution
With the arrival of large scale coal mining, and the associated railways in the nineteenth century the town grew rapidly.
Coal mining continued as a major industry until the mid-twentieth century when it went into massive decline[3].
Governance
From 1894 to 1974, the town was governed by the Bishop Auckland Urban District council within the administrative county of Durham[4]. The Urban District was scrapped under the Local Government Act 1972 and replaced by a two tier district and county council system. Under the system Bishop Auckland was governed by Wear Valley District Council at the district level and Durham County Council at the county level.
A third tier was added at the May 2007 local elections when a new town council was established. After the elections, the council elected Barbara Laurie as the town's first mayor.[5].
Under proposals approved by the government on 2007-07-25, Durham County Council and Wear Valley District Council will be replaced on 2009-04-01 by a single unitary authority serving the whole of County Durham.[6]
The town is a part of the Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency, and is currently represented at Westminster by Helen Goodman MP (Labour). The town is in the North East England European Parliament constituency.
The town is located in the Wear & Tees division of the Durham Constabulary, and served by the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and North East Ambulance Service.
Geography
Bishop Auckland is located at (British national grid reference system: ) on the Durham coalfield at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless. The River Gaunless was given its name by Norsemen in whose tongue it means ''useless''. It is believed that this derives from the river's inability to power a mill, sustain fish or create fertile floodplains[7][8]. The town nestles in the rivers' valley approximately 100 metres (328 ft) above sea level. Besides this the town is all but is surrounded on all sides by hills ranging in height from around 150 metres (492 ft) above sea level to over 220 metres (722 ft) above sea level.
Bishop Auckland is located approximately 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Darlington and 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Durham City. The town is served by Bishop Auckland railway station, which marks the point where the Tees Valley Line becomes the Weardale Railway. The town is not served directly by any motorways.
Notable suburbs and wards include Cockton Hill, Woodhouse Close, and Henknowle. Additionally, once neighbouring villages such as South Church, Tindale Crescent, St Helen Auckland, and West Auckland now more or less merge seamlessly into the town.
Climate
The nearest Met Office weather station to Bishop Auckland is located 8 miles (13 km) north-east of Bishop Auckland in Durham. The following local figures were gathered at this weather station between 1971 and 2000.
Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Bishop Auckland has a temperate climate. At 643.3 millimetres (25 in) the average annual rainfall is lower than the national average of 1,125 millimetres (44 in)[9]. Equally there are only around 121.3 days where more than 1 millimetre (0.04 in) of rain falls compared to a national average of 154.4 days9. The area sees on average 1374.6 hours of sunshine per year, compared to a national average of 1125.0 hours9. There is an air frost on 52 days compared to a national average of 55.6 days9. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures are 12.5 °C (54.5 °F) and 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) compared to a national averages of 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) and 5.1 °C (41.2 °F) respectively9.
Demography
| 'Bishop Auckland Compared' | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 'UK Census 2001[10]' | 'Bishop Auckland' | 'County Durham' | 'England and Wales' |
| Total population | 24,392 | 493,484 | 52,041,916 |
| Foreign born | 1.5% | 2.0% | 8.9% |
| Budhist | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Christian | 84.8% | 83.5% | 71.7% |
| Hindu | 0.2% | 0.1% | 1.1% |
| Muslim | 0.2% | 0.2% | 3.0% |
| No religion | 7.3% | 9.3% | 14.8% |
| Over 65 years old | 17.2% | 16.7% | 15.46% |
| Unemployed | 5.0% | 4.8% | 4.3% |
Compared to the national average, the towns population performs poorly with regards to qualifications. At 31.9%, the proportion of the town's population with no qualifications is significantly higher than the national average of 23.2% and 29.1%. Similarly, only 13.8% have a degree level qualification (or higher) compared to the national average of 21.1%.
84.8% of the town's population identify themselves as Christian, compared to a national average of 71.7%. There are below averages numbers identifying themselves as belonging to other religion. The people of the town are also more likely to be religious than the national average with only 7.3% stating they had no religion compared to the national average of 14.8%.
At 1.5% of the population, the town has a below average population of foreign born individuals, compared to a national average of 8.9%.
"Population pyramid" showing the breakdown of the Bishop Auckland's population vs Age compared with the figures for County Durham and England and Wales. Source:10
Economy
Graph showing unadjusted gross value added (GVA) in County Durham across 3 industries at current basic prices from 1995 to 2004.
'Legend'
Source:[11]
'Legend'
Source:[11]
Traditionally the town's economy was based heavily on coal mining. However, with the decline of the Durham coalfield, manufacturing has been left as the largest sector of employment in the town, accounting for 24.6% of the town's employment10.
The town also traditionally had a strong retail sector[12], as one of the county's main population centre's shoppers were attracted from smaller settlements on the Durham coalfield for miles around. However, the affect of the decline in the coal mining industry has been felt in the retail sector. Together with competition from local shopping malls such as the MetroCentre in Gateshead, the decline in the mining industry has been blamed for a downturn in the fortunes of retailers[13], with commentators lamenting the number of down market stores and charity shops in the town centre[14].
Notable employers in the town include Ebac, which is headquartered in the town and employs 350 people[15].
The chart and table summarise unadjusted gross value added (GVA) in millions of pounds sterling for County Durham across 3 industries at current basic prices from 1995 to 2004.
| Gross Value Added (GVA) (£m) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2000 | 2004 | |
| Agriculture, hunting and forestry | 45 | 33 | 48 |
| Industry, including energy and construction | 1751 | 1827 | 1784 |
| Service activities | 2282 | 2869 | 3455 |
| 'Total' | 4078 | 4729 | 5288 |
| 'UK' | 640416 | 840979 | 1044165 |
Landmarks
Auckland Castle's Gatehouse
Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Bishop Auckland Viaduct.
St Andrew's Parish Church
Notable buildings and structures in the town are Auckland Castle, the Town Hall, a Victorian Railway Viaduct, and St Andrew's parish church. Escomb Saxon Church and Binchester Roman Fort are also close by.
Auckland Castle
Main articles: Auckland Castle
Auckland Castle (often known locally as ''The Bishop's palace''), has been the official residence of the Bishop of Durham since 1832. However, its history goes back much earlier, being established as a hunting lodge for the Prince Bishops of Durham
[16]. The castle is surrounded by 800 acres (3.24 km²) of parkland, which was originally used by the Bishops for hunting and is today open to the public[17].
The castle's long dining room is home to 12 of the 13 17th century portraits of Jacob and his 12 sons painted by Francisco de Zurbarán, which were saved by Bishop Trevor in 1756[18]. Trevor was unable to secure the 13th, Benjamin, so commissioned Arthur Pond to produce a copy, which hangs alongside the 12 other originals[19].
Binchester Roman Fort
Main articles: Binchester Roman Fort
The route of the Roman road Dere Street passes straight through the middle of the town on its way to the nearby Roman Fort at Binchester20. Binchester Roman Fort, or Vinovia as it was known to the Romans, has the best preserved example of a Roman military bath house hypocaust in the country23. Bishop Auckland's main shopping street, Newgate Street, together with Cockton Hill Road and Watling Road faithfully follow the route of Dere Street[20]. Note that Watling Road should not be confused with the Roman road Watling Street, which is in the South of England.
Bishop Auckland Town Hall
Main articles: Bishop Auckland Town Hall
The Town Hall is a "Gothic style" Victorian Building overlooking the town's market place and is Grade II
★ listed[21]. After being abandoned and then condemned for demolition in the eighties, the town hall was fully restored in the early nineties. It now houses the town's main public library, a theatre, an art gallery, tourist information centre and a café-bar23.
Bishop Auckland railway viaduct
The town also has a Grade II listed Victorian Railway Viaduct crossing the River Wear[22]. The viaduct provides scenic views of the surrounding countryside below as well as Auckland Castle, the Bishop's Park and the Town Hall on approaching the town from the Viaduct. It was originally built in 185722[23] to carry the Bishop Auckland to Durham City railway line across the River Wear and the Newton Cap Bank that leads down to the river. The railway closed in 196823 and the viaduct fell into a period of disuse and was at one point threatened with demolition. However, in 1995 the viaduct has been converted to take road traffic relieving the fourteenth century single lane Bishop Skirlaw bridge that sits in the valley below it23.
Escomb Saxon church
Main articles: Escomb Church
The nearby village of Escomb is home to a complete Anglo-Saxon church. It is believed the church was built between the years 670 and 690[24]. Much of the stone used to construct the church came from the nearby Roman fort at Binchester, with some stones having Roman markings on them24. The church is a Grade I listed structure[25].
St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's church located in the adjoining village of South Church is a Grade I listed building[26]. The church was built by Augustine monks in the thirteenth century and acted as a collegiate church20.
Transport
The town has links with the birth of the railways, with the original 1825 route of the Stockton and Darlington Railway passing through West Auckland and Timothy Hackworth, a well known locomotive builder, built steam locomotives in the neighbouring town of Shildon.
Today, Bishop Auckland railway station still provides passenger services being located at the end of the Tees Valley Line. Although, the station is also at one end of the Weardale Railway, no services on this line currently come as far as Bishop Auckland. The town centre had a large railway goods yard until the 1970s, however, this has now closed and freight traffic ceased to use the line between Eastgate and Darlington completely in the 1990s when Blue Circle cement stopped using the line to transport cement from its works in Eastgate.
The nearest airport to the town is Durham Tees Valley Airport at around 19 miles (31 km) drive South-East of Bishop Auckland. The nearest motorway junction is Junction 60 of the A1(M), which is around 8 miles (13 km) away.
The town, has a bus station with a number of bus-routes serving the town. Following the withdrawal of the Go-Ahead Group from the town on 2006-04-08, most of these services are provided by Arriva[27]. However, a number of smaller firms such as Weardale buses also serve the town.
Education
Graph showing average A-Level points score per students at sixth form's attended by Bishop Auckland students, compared to the national average and Durham LEA average.
The town itself has 3 secondary schools - St John's RC Comprehensive School, The Bishop Barrington School and King James I Community College. The town also has a college, Bishop Auckland College serving the Further Education and Higher Education fields. Both Bishop Barrington and King James schools have long histories being founded in 1810 by Bishop Barrington and in 160438 on the orders of King James I respectively[31].
As illustrated in the graph, in terms of GCSE results, only one of the town's secondary schools, St John's RC Comprehensive School, meets or exceeds either of the national average or Durham LEA average of the proportion of students achieving 5 or more GCSEs (including Maths and English) at grades A
★ to C. Although traditionally the town's Grammar school38, King James I now trails in third place on this statistic. However, in the government's "contextual value added" statistic, which attempts to measure how much a school improves students, compared to how much other schools in the country improve students with similar circumstances, King James with 1026.5 points performs better than all of St John's (1016.4 points), Barrington (993.6 points) and the national average of 1001.4 points.
At A-Level none of the towns sixth form centres reach the national average of 721.5 A-Level points per student and only St John's, with an average 665.2 points, beats the LEA average of 658.8 points29. In comparison, Bishop Auckland College has an average A-Level score of 570.3 points[32] and King James an average points score of 498.228. The Bishop Barrington School no longer has its own sixth form, with the school being a feeder for Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington. The average A-Level points score at Queen Elizabeth being 890.3[33]
The needs of those with special educational needs are served by Evergreen Primary.
Schools in the town serving primary age education are detailed in the table below.
| School | Results | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Cockton Hill Infant | Ofsted | http://www.cocktonhill-inf.durham.sch.uk/ |
| Cockton Hill Junior | Ofsted | http://www.cocktonhilljuniors.co.uk/ |
| Copeland Road Primary | Ofsted | http://www.copelandroad.durham.sch.uk/ |
| Etherley Lane Primary | Ofsted | http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/elane.durham/ |
| Oakley Cross Primary | Ofsted | http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/oakleyx.durham/ |
| St Andrew's Primary | Ofsted | - |
| St Anne's CofE Primary | Ofsted | http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/annespri/ |
| St Helen Auckland Community Primary | Ofsted | - |
| St Wilfrid's RC Primary | Ofsted | - |
| Woodhouse Close Infant | Ofsted | - |
| Woodhouse Close Junior | Ofsted | - |
Healthcare
Bishop Auckland General Hospital
As is the case with the rest of the UK, the population of the town are served by the National Health Service (NHS). The town has its own NHS hospital, Bishop Auckland General Hospital. The current Bishop Auckland General Hospital has 286 beds and since opening in 2002 has become a centre specialising in routine surgery [34]. The hospital also has a nurse led A&E department.
The new hospital was a PFI project announced by the Labour government in 1997. It replaced the old Bishop Auckland General Hospital which had been housed in the town's workhouse buildings[35] and temporary huts constructed during world war II.
Other local hospitals include Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham, which has replaced Durham Dryburn and was announced on the same day as the new Bishop Auckland General.
Sports
Bishop Auckland is famous for its amateur football team, Bishop Auckland AFC, which won the FA Amateur Cup 10 times in the Trophy's 80 year history, having appeared in the Final on 18 occasions38.
The adjacent village of West Auckland is notable for having been home to the first team to win the Football World Cup. Its team of local coal miners won the cup in the Easter of 1909 and again in 1911, defeating the mighty Juventus in the final[36]. This story was portrayed in the 1982 television movie "''The World Cup - A Captain's Tale''" made by Tyne Tees Television and starring Denis Waterman[37]. The cup, the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy, itself was stolen from West Auckland Town F.C. in 1994 and a replica now resides in West Auckland working men's club36.
Notable people
Former British Prime Minister, Sir Anthony Eden was born in the town.
Stan Laurel of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy lived in the town during his childhood attending the town's Grammar School, King James 1st[38]. His parents owned the now demolished Eden Theatre, which was located at the junction of Newgate Street and South Church Road[39], before selling to the Donoghue family.
Politician, Sir Anthony Eden, who was Prime Minister of the UK between 1955 and 1957, was born in Bishop Auckland[40]. As was, Peter Soulsby, the current MP for Leicester South,[41] and Mansfield MP Alan Meale[42].
Jeremiah Dixon, Astronomer and Surveyor of the Mason-Dixon Line[43], footballer Charlie Wayman who played for Newcastle United, Middlesbrough FC, and Southampton FC[44], Actor Christopher Hancock, who played Charlie Cotton in Eastenders[45],
and Craig Raine, the poet and critic[46] were also born in Bishop Auckland.
Roland Boys Bradford, who during World War I was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery on 1916-10-01, and became Brigadier General, on 1917-11-10 at the age of 25 making him the youngest General in the British Army, was born in the nearby village of Witton Park[47]. Actor John Reed, was born and spent his childhood in the nearby village of Close House[48].
One of the UK's most prolific serial killers, Mary Ann Cotton, lived in the nearby village of West Auckland. She was hanged at Durham Jail in 1873 for the murder of her stepson. However, it is believed that she could have been responsible for the deaths of up to 21 others[49].
Frederick William Faber, the theologian and catholic priest, was educated at the town's grammar school[50]
Town planner Thomas Wilfred Sharp were also born in the town.
Cultural references
Lewis Carroll set the story "''A Legend of Scotland''" at Auckland Castle.
Twin towns
Bishop Auckland is twinned with the French town of Ivry-sur-Seine, whilst the wider Wear Valley district is twinned with Bad Oeynhausen in Germany[51]
See also
★ Baron Foster of Bishop Auckland
References
1. 2001 Census Profiles (Numbers) for Major Centres in County Durham, Durham County Council, Retrieved on 2007-08-10
2. Simpson, David. The North East England History Pages - Bishop Auckland and Surrounds. Retrieved on 2007-09-01
3. Thematic Overview - Industrial, Keys to the past. Retrieved on 2007-09-01.
4. A vision of Bishop Auckland UD, A vision of Britain. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
5. New Town Council for Bishop Auckland
6. Durham unitary authority approved
7. The North East England History Pages - Place Names
8. Echo Memories: Tides of change in the land of Canute
9. UK 1971-2000 averages, Met Office. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
10. 2001 Census Profiles (Rates) for Major Centres in County Durham, Durham County Council. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
11. NUTS3 GVA (1995-2004) Data, Office for National Statistics. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
12. £2.4m 'people's plan' to revive economy of market town
13. Action plan aims to revive town fortunes
14. End of an era as charity shop pioneer pulls out
15. Ebac turns its eyes to Far East
16. Castle History, Auckland Castle. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
17. Castle Grounds, Auckland Castle. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
18. London should keep its hands off the treasures of the north
19.
Bid to keep castle paintings in N-E
20. Visit Wear Valley, Wear Valley District Council. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
21. Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Images of England, 2001-04-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
22. Newton Cap Railway Viaduct, Images of England, 2006-03-05. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
23. Walking and Cycling Routes in Wear Valley, Wear Valley District Council. Retrieved on 2007-08-22.
24. History of the Church, Escomb Saxon Church. Retrieved on 2007-08-23.
25. The Saxon Church, Saxon Green, Escomb, Images of England, 2000-08-08. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
26. St Andrew's parish church, Images of England, 2000-08-11. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
27. Go-Ahead will use green diesel
28.
League Tables: King James I Community Arts College
29. League Tables: St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form Centre
30. League Tables: Bishop Barrington School
31. Astrop - Auckland, Bishop, A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 108-12. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
32. League Tables: Bishop Auckland College
33. League Tables: Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College
34. Bishop Auckland General Hospital, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
35. Hospital Records Database - Bishop Auckland General Hospital, The National Archives. Retrieved on 2007-09-06
36. World Cup winners prepare to tackle new kids on block
37. The World Cup - A Captain's Tale, Film & TV Database, BFI. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
38. A Short History of Bishop Auckland
39. Land, John. Walk with Stan Laurel in Bishop Auckland, Bishop Auckland Town. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
40. Sir Anthony Eden - PMs in History, 10 Downing Street. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
41. Biography of Peter Soulsby, Peter Soulsby. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
42. Alan Meale's CV, Alan Meale. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
43. Biography of Jeremiah Dixon, Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 1993. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
44. Obituary - Charlie Wayman
45. Obituary - Christopher Hancock
46. Craig Raine, Contemporary Writers, The British Council. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
47. DLI Medal Collection - Roland Boys Bradford, DLI Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
48. Nothing Whatever to Grumble At, , John, Reed, Xlibris Corporation, ,
49. Mary Ann Cotton still rotten
50. The Good & The Great - Frederick William Faber, The Diocese of Ely. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
51. Twinning, Wear Valley District Council. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
External links
★ Bishop Auckland Town Website
★ Wear Valley District Council
★ Durham County Council
★ Bishop Auckland Town Hall
★ Binchester Roman Fort
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