For over 900 years Auckland Castle served as the principal country residence of the powerful Prince Bishops of Durham. It is one of the best-preserved bishops’ palaces in the whole of Europe and is at the centre of The Auckland Project. First established as a hunting lodge, it grew to become a comfortable mansion for the Bishops, who for centuries were virtual rulers of a vast strip of land in the north-east of England. It closed in 2016 so that expert conservators, including stonemasons, carpenters and historians, could transform the castle to its peak 18th Century glory. Auckland Castle re-opened to the public in November 2019, making this historic building open to the public.
The castle has become the soul of The Auckland Project, which is using art, faith, history and heritage to transform the quiet town of Bishop Auckland into a leading tourist destination.
The conservation scheme aimed to stabilise the historic fabric of the building while reconstructing the interiors of the state rooms and private apartments originally designed by Bishop Barrington and renowned architect James Wyatt.
The Auckland Project has invested £50m in its renewal work, which includes a grant of £12.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Working closely with Meldrum Construction and architects Purcell; Selectaglaze provided the Castle with a bespoke secondary glazing solution to support the restoration.
As the castle is Grade I Listed, any work undertaken had to be considerate to the building’s elegance and historical importance. As secondary glazing is a discreet and reversible adaptation, it is ideal for Listed properties and can provide an unseen level of security and protection to any property, as well as raising thermal performance and noise insulation.
Selectaglaze treated the decorative, geometric windows leading into one of the new galleries. The grid-like designs, punctuated with an interlacing pattern, depict the arms of John Cosin (Bishop of Durham 1660-1672) who transformed the medieval great hall in the castle into the private chapel of the Bishops of Durham.
A cluster of Gothic designed rooms not previously open to the public have now been repurposed as a gallery space. Selectaglaze installed slimline secondary units in the gallery that were curved at the top to fit perfectly against the primary windows in the exhibition space, very discreet for a heritage environment like Auckland Castle.
Meldrum’s contract also included the construction of an environmentally controlled extension for a new Faith Museum adjoining Auckland Castle. The new Scotland Wing extension is clad in sandstone from Cop Crag in Northumberland. The new area will showcase an exhibition charting the impact of faith on the British Isles.
A new gallery dedicated to Spanish art, inspired by a collection of works by the Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán which have hung in Auckland Castle for the last 250 years, is also due to open in Bishop Auckland Market Place. The Spanish Gallery has also seen the installation of Selectaglaze secondary glazed units.
Selectaglaze secondary glazed units reduce heat loss by up to 50% using standard glass and up to 65% with a thermally efficient low-E glass. High performance compression seals will almost eliminate drafts and ensure much greater comfort near the window. Furthermore, they will reduce noise levels by 45dB (decibels). This can achieve World Health Organisation guidelines for quiet surroundings, perfect for galleries.
Overall, the newly renovated rooms are far better prepared to house exhibitions and museum collections. Selectaglaze is proud to have been involved in a restoration project that will produce a legacy for Bishop Auckland; supporting an attraction that will breathe new life and opportunities into the local economy and overall visitor experience.
Established in 1966, Royal Warrant holder Selectaglaze has vast experience in working with all types of buildings throughout the UK. Selectaglaze distributes monthly Spotlight e-bulletins, with recent updates, new blogpost and events – so sign up now!
