Rediscover Bishop Auckland and learn how to look past the present. Take a look of the town has developed over the past 200 years.

Explore the rich and enduring heritage of Bishop Auckland from the past, learn about the history of its iconic buildings and admire unique architectural details.

Share your memories and stories with us to celebrate the heritage of our town.

Look Past the Present is a community curated exhibition in partnership with Auckland Castle Trust.

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Newgate St, 1970

Newgate St, 1970
Eden Theatre, 1960s Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Eden Theatre, 1960s
<h2>Auckland Castle, 1974</h2><p class='caption'>Chris Anderson</p>

Auckland Castle, 1974
The Mechanic's Institute Fiona Stack

The Mechanic's Institute
UNDERSIDE OF VIADUCT Copyright Andrew Vickers

UNDERSIDE OF VIADUCT
HOUSES ON HIGH BONDGATE Copyright Mavis Dixon

HOUSES ON HIGH BONDGATE
Copyright John Bradley

KINGSWAY SPORTS GROUND DURING A BISHOP AUCKLAND FC MATCH Copyright Dick Longstaff

KINGSWAY SPORTS GROUND DURING A BISHOP AUCKLAND FC MATCH
Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway Dick Longstaff

Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH TOWER Copyright Hazel Barker

ST ANDREW’S CHURCH TOWER
DETAIL OF THE ROBINSON ARCH, GATEWAY TO AUCKLAND CASTLE

DETAIL OF THE ROBINSON ARCH, GATEWAY TO AUCKLAND CASTLE
THE ELM’S AND KING’S LODGE, MARKET PLACE Copyright Steve Humphrey

THE ELM’S AND KING’S LODGE, MARKET PLACE
CLEANING UP AFTER MARKET DAY

CLEANING UP AFTER MARKET DAY
DUFF AND ROUNDTREE NEWGATE DRAPERS, MARKET PLACE, 1907 Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

DUFF AND ROUNDTREE NEWGATE DRAPERS, MARKET PLACE, 1907
POSTCARD FROM BISHOP AUCKLAND Courtesy of Pat Robbins

POSTCARD FROM BISHOP AUCKLAND
FINLAY THE JEWELERS, NEWGATE STREET Copyright Fiona Stack

FINLAY THE JEWELERS, NEWGATE STREET
VIEW FROM THE ROBINSON ARCH LOOKING ONTO THE MARKET PLACE

VIEW FROM THE ROBINSON ARCH LOOKING ONTO THE MARKET PLACE

SIDE OF THE TOWN HALL

SIDE OF THE TOWN HALL
FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE YORKSHIRE BANK, NEWGATE STREET Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

FRONT ENTRANCE OF THE YORKSHIRE BANK, NEWGATE STREET

Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway Dick Longstaff

Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway
VIEW OF THE ROBINSON ARCH FROM THE MARKET PLACE Copyright Hazel Parker

VIEW OF THE ROBINSON ARCH FROM THE MARKET PLACE
<h2>Newgate St, 1974</h2><p class='caption'>Chris Anderson</p>

Newgate St, 1974
Mavis Dixon

Newgate St, 1930s Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Newgate St, 1930s
CLOSE UP OF OLD BANK CHAMBERS, MARKET PLACE Copyright Dave Spence

CLOSE UP OF OLD BANK CHAMBERS, MARKET PLACE
J JONES, NEWGATE STREET Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

J JONES, NEWGATE STREET
Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway, 1949. Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway, 1949.
Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway Dick Longstaff

Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway
Market Place Copyright John Bradley

Market Place
TEA CUP RIDES FOR CHILDREN ON THURSDAY MARKET DAY

TEA CUP RIDES FOR CHILDREN ON THURSDAY MARKET DAY
Bondgate Police Station Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Bondgate Police Station
MCINTYRE SHOP FRONT IN THE EARLY 1960S Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

MCINTYRE SHOP FRONT IN THE EARLY 1960S
A view of Newgate St from the Marketplace Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

A view of Newgate St from the Marketplace
<h2>Bishop Auckland Train Station, 1974</h2><p class='caption'>Chris Anderson</p>

Bishop Auckland Train Station, 1974
VIEW OF THE TOWN HALL’S CLOCK TOWER AND WEATHER VANE Copyright Mike Bridge

VIEW OF THE TOWN HALL’S CLOCK TOWER AND WEATHER VANE
THE VIADUCT Copyright Paul Brookers

THE VIADUCT
SERVING CUSTOMERS ON MARKET DAY

SERVING CUSTOMERS ON MARKET DAY
TOWN HALL AND ST ANNE’S ON MARKET DAY. Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

TOWN HALL AND ST ANNE’S ON MARKET DAY.
BURTONS THE TAILORS ON CORNER OF NEWGATE STREET Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

BURTONS THE TAILORS ON CORNER OF NEWGATE STREET
Market Day, 1960s. Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Market Day, 1960s.
SETTING UP FOR MARKET DAY

SETTING UP FOR MARKET DAY
ST ANNE’S CHURCH, MARKET PLACE Copyright Steve Humphrey

ST ANNE’S CHURCH, MARKET PLACE
VIEW OF NEWGATE STREET FROM THE MARKET PLACE Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

VIEW OF NEWGATE STREET FROM THE MARKET PLACE
BACKHOUSE BANK Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

BACKHOUSE BANK
Newgate Street, 1930s Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Newgate Street, 1930s
Mike Bridge

John Bradley

Aerial Photo of the Football Club on Kingsway Dick Longstaff

Aerial Photo of the Football Club on Kingsway
Newgate St, 1907 Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

Newgate St, 1907
POSTCARD FROM BISHOP AUCKLAND COURTESY OF Pat Robbins

POSTCARD FROM BISHOP AUCKLAND
Newgate St, 1970

Newgate St, 1970
Newgate St

Newgate St
<h2>Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway 1974</h2><p class='caption'>Chris Anderson</p>

Bishop Auckland Football Club, Kingsway 1974
<h2>A Vision of the Future</h2><p class='caption'>Auckland Castle Trust</p>

A Vision of the Future
<h2>Marketplace, Bishop Auckland 1974</h2><p class='caption'>Chris Anderson</p>

Marketplace, Bishop Auckland 1974
SETTING UP FOR MARKET DAY

SETTING UP FOR MARKET DAY
DOGGARTS, MARKET PLACE Beamish The Living Museum of the North – People’s Collection

DOGGARTS, MARKET PLACE
Newgate St

Newgate St
GREGORY’S THE BUTCHERS, NEWGATE STREET Copyright John Dixon

GREGORY’S THE BUTCHERS, NEWGATE STREET