The Auckland Project - Autumn / Winter What's On

Welcome

There’s so much to do at The Auckland Project, and this autumn and winter there’s more than ever.

Our new Faith Museum opens in October, telling the story of Britain through the force that changed the course of history - faith. Featuring personal mementoes, historic objects and contemporary artworks, the Faith Museum is included in the Annual Pass and Auckland Castle tickets.

A host of events for adults and families are running across our sites: step back to the medieval period with hands-on activities at Auckland Castle this October half-term, hop on board the Weardale Railway’s Christmas Santa Specials, enjoy New Year’s Eve at the Park Head Hotel, or come along to some of our exclusive talks and creative workshops at the Mining Art Gallery and Spanish Gallery.

A highlight of the season is AGLOW: one of the most spectacular festive light trails in the country. AGLOW features the largest Christmas tree in the North East, the longest light tunnel in the UK, a Christmas village, vintage fairground rides and much more.

Last but not least, join the campaign to save a national treasure and bring it to Bishop Auckland. Your support could see Henry VIII’s lost tapestry restored to its homeland, inspiring future generations with its amazing stories.

ANNUAL PASS

The best way to enjoy The Auckland Project is with an Annual Pass.

With 12 months of access to Auckland Castle and Gardens, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the Faith Museum you can enjoy new exhibitions and our events programme for adults and families all year round.

You can purchase at Auckland Tower or if you use the code TAP10 you can get a 10% discount when buying it online at aucklandproject.org

For prices, see back cover.

Chief Executive Officer, The Auckland Project

Auckland Castle

Experience history where it happened as you walk in the footsteps of the mighty Prince Bishops of Durham.

lecture

The Paintings that Made History

19 October, 16 November, 14 December,

14 March 11:00

The remarkable series of portraits by Zurbarán depicting Jacob and his sons have been displayed in Auckland Castle for over 250 years. Join Head of Exhibitions Clare Baron as she reveals their story and explains how they inspired the whole of the Auckland Project in these 15-minute talks.

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket

The Castle

Beneath our Feet

02 November 11:00–12:00

Over the last half-decade a series of astonishing archaeological excavations have transformed our understanding of Auckland Castle in the medieval period. Our Archaeology Curator John Castling reveals some of the discoveries which have helped build a picture of the lost palace.

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket. Booking advised

Stories from the Archives

13 October, 10 November, 8 December, 8 March

11:00

Castle Curator Charlotte Grobler delves into the archives to uncover some of the lesser-known stories of Auckland Castle in these 10-minute talks.

• October : ‘A certayn straunge Ladye’: Lewis Carroll’s Auckland Ghost story

• November : The Fighting Bishop: How Bishop Henson took on fascism in the run up to the Second World War

• December : Christmas with the bishop: Christmases past at Auckland Castle

• March: Come Holy Ghost our Souls Inspire: Bishop Cosin’s sacred music

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket

religious service

Services in St. Peter’s Chapel

Every Wednesday except 27 December

11:15

All are welcome, whatever your faith or background, to attend the Church of England communion service celebrated in St. Peter’s Chapel each Wednesday morning.

Free

walking group

Walking for Wellbeing

Every Wednesday from 8 November (except 27 December and 22 February)

13:30–15:30

Gather at the Bishop’s Kitchen before heading on a relaxed walk in the gardens, Deer Park and beyond.

Free

family activity

Medieval Merriment

28, 29 October, 1, 2, 3 November 11:00–15:00

With music, storytelling, apple pressing (make your own non-alcoholic cider!) and hands-on activities, there’s fun for all the family as we discover the medieval tales of Auckland Castle.

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket. family activity

A Family Christmas at the Castle

16 and 17 December

11:00–15:00

With festive storytelling and creative craft activities, join Mrs. Moule and Ernest the butler as they prepare for a Castle Christmas. Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket.

music

Christmas Carol Service

16 December 2023

14:00–15:00

Once again St. Peter’s Chapel will swell with the sound of festive music as the annual carol service takes place. This event is always popular, and a wonderful occasion to come together through music and readings. Free. Booking required

Faith Museum

A decade in the making, with a story spanning 6,000 years, the Faith Museum opens its doors on 7 October and is included in a ticket for Auckland Castle or as part of your Annual Pass. Discover how faith has impacted the lives of people across time, and shaped almost every aspect of life in Britain.

Objects in Focus

Wednesdays on: 11, 18, 25 October, 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 November, 6, 13 December, 21, 28 February, 6, 13 March

13:00

Join our curators Amina Wright, Rosalyn Goulding and John Castling for these 15-minute short talks which highlight some of the remarkable objects on display, and explore how they illuminate stories of faith across the centuries.

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle/Faith Museum ticket

Writing in the Dust:

Poetry with Roger Wagner and Christopher Southgate

30 September

14:00–15:30

Theologian Christopher Southgate and artist Roger Wagner come together to share some of their poetry, which contemplates faith, art, and sin, and what they mean in today’s world. Marking the end of the Sin exhibition, and ahead of the opening of the Faith Museum, this event includes readings and discussion, tea and coffee and an opportunity to view Roger Wagner’s paintings and the Sin exhibition after the event. £10. Booking required lecture

The Flowering Tree

22 February

11:00–12:00

Exploring themes common in artworks throughout the museum, from the medieval to the contemporary, Senior Curator Amina Wright discusses death, blossoming and renewal in this exclusive lecture.

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle/Faith Museum ticket. Booking advised creative workshop

An Afternoon of Art

28 February

13:00–16:00

Join artist Jilly Johnston as she explores the range of art on display in the Faith Museum, from ancient carvings to contemporary commissions, before demonstrating a range of techniques and supporting you to create your own artworks. Materials and tea, coffee and biscuits included.

£15. Booking required

‘Unpicking’ Archbishop Morton’s vestments

07 March

14:00–15:00

The Morton Frontal, a patchwork of medieval vestments associated with Archbishop John Morton, raised many questions. Why had the vestments, with their unique embroidered lily crucifix, been cut up – and then re-made? This presentation virtually ‘unpicks’ the frontal to propose a new understanding of its complex past as an object of faith. Includes tea and coffee, and access to the Faith Museum afterwards.

£10. Booking required

Family Trail

Available daily

Travelling through 6,000 years of history is quite a task, so pick up your explorer’s pack with all the tools you’ll need to get up close to amazing treasures, hunt for clues and uncover mysterious stories. Your activity map will be your guide, but you’ll be the one to find the answers!

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle/Faith Museum ticket

short talk

With seventeen incredible illuminations and some of the largest light installations in the country, AGLOW promises to be one of the most spectacular Christmas light trails in the North East.

Begin your journey at Auckland Castle and embark on a glittering 1.5-mile trail through Auckland Castle’s gardens and grounds, with surprises around every corner.

Book now at AucklandAglow. org

22 NOVEMBER – 31 DECEMBER

If you are travelling from further afield or have friends and family coming to join you at AGLOW, you’ll find a warm welcome at the Park Head Hotel.

Mining Art Gallery

The epic stories of coal mining are shown in this intimate gallery, featuring artworks created by miners. A new exhibition, Len Tabner: Elements of Darkness, opens 28 October.

workshop

Printing and Lithography

04 October

10:00–16:00

Mining artists such as Tom McGuinness would create powerful artworks using printing techniques. This workshop, suitable for beginners, will introduce both the history of printing as a medium in mining art, but also support you to create your own prints. £30. Booking required

Young Artists' Club

Every Thursday from 5 October (except 2 November, 21 and 28 December and 22 February)

16:00–17:30

Each week young artists get together to learn new techniques, discover the works of great artists throughout history, and create their own pieces of art. Suitable for all abilities. Free. Booking required workshop

Lino-cut Cards and Glass Bauble Painting for Christmas

Allsorts

Fridays from 10 November (except 29 December, 23 February and 29 March)

13:30–15:30

Come along to our dementia-friendly social group for older people where you can laugh, share stories and try new things.

Creative Forum

Every Wednesday from 8 November (except 20 & 27 December and 22 February)

10:30–12:30

Join like-minded creatives for social art sessions.

Free exhibition

Len Tabner: Elements of Darkness

From 28 October

Personal Highlights

5, 12, 19, 26 October, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 November, 7, 14, 21 December, 22, 29 February, 7, 14, 21, 28 March

14:00

The Mining Art Gallery volunteers have a passion not just for the artworks on display, but the artists who created them too. Join them each week for short talks as they discuss some of their personal highlights.

Free with an annual pass or Mining Art Gallery ticket

06 December

10:00–16:00

Prepare unique decorations this Christmas as you use lino-cutting techniques to make your own cards, and paint glass baubles for your tree. Includes materials, as well as tea, coffee and mince pies. £30. Booking required

This new exhibition brings together a selection of Len Tabner’s drawings and paintings of Boulby Potash Mine on the North Yorkshire coast – the deepest mine in Britain. Len explored the unfamiliar underground world of the miner in the early 1980s, drawing and painting in situ in the mine.

Free with an annual pass or Mining Art Gallery ticket

Spanish Gallery

Featuring masterpieces from the Golden Age of Spanish art, the gallery will see new additions this November, further enhancing its impressive collection.

Curator’s Choice

11, 24 October, 22 November, 6 December, 28 February, 13, 27 March

14:00

Research Curator for the Spanish Gallery, Morlin Ellis, picks some of her personal highlights of the collection and delves into their stories in these 15-minute short talks.

Free with an annual pass or Spanish Gallery ticket exhibition

New Artworks for Autumn

From 11 November

10 new paintings from the Spanish Golden Age go on display throughout the gallery.

Free with an annual pass or Spanish Gallery ticket

Adorations: The Christmas Story in Spanish Art

13 December 2023

11:00–12:00

gallery tour

Highlight Tours

27 September

11:30 and 13:30

Experience the majesty and melodrama of the Golden Age of Spanish Art in these tours, delivered by doctoral students from the Zurbarán Centre at Durham University. Tours last 45 minutes.

Free with an annual pass or Spanish Gallery ticket

Michael Craig-Martin and Nicholas Cullinan

10 November 2023

18:00

Leading British artist, Michael CraigMartin will discuss his artistic practice in conversation with Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery. This event will be live-streamed, with a limited number of tickets available to attend in person. Tickets are £15 to attend in person, and include a private viewing of the Spanish Gallery and welcome drink. Live-stream viewers can attend for free. For further details, please visit our website.

£15. Booking required

Scenes of the Adoration – or Nativity – have been depicted by artists across the centuries. In this lunchtime lecture, Research Curator Morlin Ellis looks at some of the works in the Spanish Gallery which feature the Adoration. Free with an annual pass or Spanish Gallery ticket. Booking advised

music

The Sound of Spain

17 March

11:00, 12:30, 14:00

As you walk through the dramatic spaces of the Spanish Gallery, enjoy live music performed on the Spanish guitar.

Free with an annual pass or Spanish Gallery ticket

Help save this

Tudor

treasure and bring it back to Britain

We have one chance to save Henry VIII’s lost tapestry for the nation. Of enormous artistic, historic, religious and political significance, its natural home is the Faith Museum at Auckland Castle.

You can help make it happen.

Live Tapestry Weaving

4 and 5 November

Auckland Castle

11:00–15:00

See an artist at work doing live tapestry weaving in rooms built during the Tudor era. Fnd out how this historic craft continues to thrive in the 21st century.

Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket

short film and interactive session

Brought to Life

4 and 5 November

Auckland Tower and No.42

11:00–15:00

Pop into Auckland Tower for interactive weaving sessions as well as a special animation created by young people in Bishop Auckland, where they bring the tapestry to life.

Free

Did You Know?

Personally commissioned by Henry VIII, Saint Paul Directing the Burning of the Heathen Books was designed by Pieter Coecke van Aelst in 1535. Henry had become Supreme Head of the Church of England the year before, and the tapestry, measuring 18 feet by 11 feet, was a powerful statement of his new status.

Tapestry in 10 minutes

4 and 5 November

Auckland Castle

11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00

Find out why Henry VIII’s tapestry is so special, and how the Faith Museum could be its new home – if our campaign is successful! Your support could make all the difference. Free with an annual pass or Auckland Castle ticket

drop - in activity

The Big Stitch

4 and 5 November

No.42

11:00–16:00

Whether you’ve never held a needle and thread or you love to stitch, pop into No.42 where you can help artist Betty Brown create a huge textile banner the size of a billboard, based on the tapestry.

Free

Weardale Railway

A journey through the Durham Dales is an experience to remember when you take our heritage railway.

Halloween Family Fun

28, 31 October (Stanhope–Wolsingham), 29 October (Stanhope–Bishop Auckland)

Depart Stanhope on 28 & 31 at 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00. Depart Stanhope on 29 at 11:00 & 15:00.

Join us for some scary, spooky fun on our very own ghost train. Show off your costumes in our competition for the best fancy dress, and see if you will win the prize for most impressive pumpkin.

Day Rover for unlimited travel: Stanhope £10, from Bishop Auckland £16. Up to 2 children per adult, £1 per child. Booking required

Photography trains

12 November

Departs Stanhope 10:00, lasts 4 hours. Capture unique photographs of natural beauty and industrial heritage on the Weardale Railway. Calling at six points of interests on the route, with guidance and advice from a photographer, the workshop lasts four hours and is suitable for both amateur and skilled snappers. The experience commences at Stanhope from 10.00 and returns at approximately 14.00 hours; on arrival back at Stanhope station complimentary drink and cake is available.

£40. Booking required

Christmas Santa Specials

November 25 and 26, December 02, 03, 09, 10, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24

Depart Stanhope at 10:30, 12:40, 14:50 and 17:00 (Christmas Eve 10:30 and 12:40)

Set off from the festively decorated Stanhope ‘Santahope’ station for a journey with Santa’s elves on our heritage train, before meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves! There’s also an opportunity to visit the Story Train and take part in Christmas activities, whilst each child will receive a gift from Santa. Book early to avoid disappointment.

£25, Under 2s free. Booking required

festive event for all

Mince Pie Specials

28, 29 and 30 December

Depart Stanhope at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00

After the Christmas festivities, get out into the fresh air and combine a guided walk with a train journey on Weardale Railway. Walks will leave from Stanhope and Wolsingham and coincide with the train times.

£15 Adult, £10 Concession, £5 child, £30 Family (2 Adults and 3 children).

Booking required

gift vouchers

The Ideal Gift

Various date throughout 2024

Looking for the perfect present for someone who's difficult to buy for? A Weardale Railway gift voucher is ideal for any occasion. Give someone special an experience they’ll love –which they can use on any of our tickets or events.

With a variety of price options, see weardale-railway.digitickets.co.uk

Driver Experience

See website dates

Have you ever fancied being a train driver? This is your chance to drive our Sentinel Locomotive in a special experience lasting two hours. Starting from Stanhope you will undertake all the roles of our driver, from assisting with pre-safety start up checks, liaising with the controller and duty manager, and taking the controls to drive the locomotive. This unique opportunity will provide memories that will last for years to come.

£250. Booking required

Did You Know?

Kids can travel for as little as £1 on selected dates

See weardale-railway.org.uk for Terms & Conditions

Around the Market Place

Whether you are climbing Auckland Tower, popping into No.42 for an event or local art exhibition, or dining in El Castillo, there’s a lot going on in the Market Place.

local festival

Bishop Auckland Heritage Festival & Horticultural and Produce Show

23 September

No.42, Auckland Castle and Gardens, and other local venues

10:30–16:00

Bishop Auckland is the place to be on the 23rd as both the Heritage Festival and Horicultural and Produce Show take place. Organisations from across the town are putting on activities in the Town Hall and Market Place - make sure you pop into No.42 to see our current art exhibition, find out more about the plans to save Henry VIII’s tapestry and have a go at some creative crafts. Then head over to Auckland Castle’s magnificent gardens - open for free all day - where you can join budding gardeners and horticultural experts for the annual Horticultural and Produce Show. With displays, discussion and friendly competition, it’s a wonderful way to mark the end of the summer. Free

social session

Pregnant to Preschool

Every Monday (except 25 December and 1 January)

No.42

13:30–15:30

For advice from NHS professionals and a chance to chat and socialise in a relaxed atmosphere, parents of young children and expectant parents can pop into No.42 for these regular sessions.

Paella Nights

Every Thursday

El Castillo

hands - on activities

Young Archaeologists’ Club

14 October, 11 November, 9 December, 10 February, 9 March

No.42

10:00–12:00 for 7-11 year olds

13:00–15:00 for 11-16 year olds

Join our Young Archaeologists’ Club and discover how some of the most amazing things in history are right beneath your feet – from Roman forts to medieval castles, golden treasures to ancient bones. Find out more from our website or email yac@aucklandproject.org

Booking essential

drop - in information session

Discover Volunteering

28 October 10:30-14:00, 16 December 13:00-15:00 and 17 December 11:00-12:30 at Auckland Tower 17 October 11:15-12:45, 17 November 13:30-15:00 at Bishop Auckland Town Hall

Come and have a chat about the wide range of volunteering roles at the Auckland Project, and what the experience could mean for you. Free

Thursday night is paella night at El Castillo. Whether it’s a seafood special or vegetable feast, paella is a great choice for a quiet meal or a family celebration.

Booking advised

drop - in activity

Extraordinary Embossing

1, 2 and 3 November

Auckland Tower

11:00–15:00

In this drop-in foil embossing workshop, take inspiration from illuminated manuscripts and create a work of art to treasure. Free

drop - in activity Cosy

Club

21-25 February

Auckland Tower

11:00-15:00

Come in from the cold for arts, crafts, puppets, stories and more, with something for all the family whatever the weather. Free

Park Head Hotel & Oak Room Restaurant

Whether you are planning a weekend in Bishop Auckland or have friends and family needing a place to stay, the newly renovated Park Head Hotel is winning excellent reviews for its comfortable accommodation and friendly service. It features 38 en-suite rooms, a bar, function room and restaurant, as well as a children’s play area. Everyone is welcome in the Oak Room Restaurant , whether you are staying at the hotel or not. The Sunday lunches are legendary, and its breakfasts recently won a Visit England award.

Festive Menu

1 December to 23 December

(except 3, 10 and 17 when traditional Sunday fare is served)

Our chefs have created seasonal menus with options for two or three courses. Private dining for groups of up to 50 is available, including lunchtime service options. 2 courses for £23 or 3 courses for £28

Christmas

Wreath Workshops

25

New Year’s Eve

31 December Oak Room Restaurant

Under expert guidance, make your own festive wreath to take home. The workshop includes all materials and you can enjoy a drink on arrival, as well as mini mince pies, cranberry and apricot sausage rolls, and tea and coffee. £55. Booking required

Christmas Day 25

Forget the peeling, baking and boiling this Christmas and treat yourself to a delicious 5 course lunch. With a drink on arrival, luxury crackers, and a gift for the children left by Santa, you’ll be feeling festive with this special dinner. £85 per person (aged 13+) and £45 for children (aged 3-12). Booking required

Start your evening with a Champagne cocktail before enjoying a candlelit dinner to say goodbye to 2023 and welcome in the New Year. £65 per person, children aged 12+ are welcome to attend event.

Booking required

Venue Hire at the Laurel Room

Park Head Hotel

From special family events to business meetings, the Laurel Room function suite at the Park Head is the ideal venue.

Three course roast dinners will also be available on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day; £28 per adult and £20 per child. Booking required

Prince Bishop Friends

The Prince Bishop Friends is our patrons' scheme, made up of anyone who supports the regeneration work of The Auckland Project and wants to get the most out of our galleries, gardens and heritage sites.

Benefits include:

• Unlimited entry to The Auckland Project’s attractions

• Complimentary tickets for family and friends

• Exclusive events and experiences

• Priority booking and early bird tickets for seasonal events

• 10% discount on food, drink and retail (terms and conditions apply)

Annual Individual Membership

£85 includes 4 complimentary tickets

Annual Joint Membership

£120 includes 6 complimentary tickets

exclusive preview

First Look at the Faith Museum

22 September 2023

Faith Museum

Be among the first people to step inside the new Faith Museum. Enjoy a drinks reception, meet the curators, and explore this remarkable new museum.

exhibition preview

Len Tabner: Elements of Darkness preview

26 October 2023

Mining Art Gallery

View the latest exhibition at the Mining Art Gallery which celebrates the work of artist Len Tabner. Includes drinks reception.

social celebration

Friends' Christmas Gathering

10 December 2023

Auckland Castle

As Christmas draws near, gather around the Christmas tree at Auckland Castle for a festive celebration, and an opportunity for us to thank you for your support.

Bishop AucklAnd

Most of The Auckland Project's attractions can be found in the historic Market Place of Bishop Auckland. The nearby railway station is the departure point for select journeys on the Weardale Railway, although most leave from Stanhope station. Close by you will also find the site of Kynren, Binchester Roman Fort and the Park Head Hotel.

1 Auckland Tower

2 Auckland Castle

3 Faith Museum

4 Walled Garden

5 Deer Park (5 mins walk)

6 Kynren Spectacular Nightshow (1.5 mile drive)

7 Binchester Roman Fort (2 mile drive)

8 Weardale Railway (16 mile drive to Stanhope station)

9 No.42 Art Gallery

10 Mrs. M’s

11 Spanish Gallery and Restaurant

12 Mining Art Gallery

13 Park Head Hotel and Oak Room Restaurant (1.5 mile walk or drive)

September

22 Prince Bishop Friends: First Look at the Faith Museum, Faith Museum

23 Bishop Auckland Heritage Festival, No.42

23 Bishop Auckland Horticulture and Produce Show, Auckland Castle Gardens

27 Highlight Tours, Spanish Gallery

30 Poetry with Roger Wagner and Christopher Southgate, Faith Museum, Auckland Castle

October

04 Creative workshop: Printing and lithography, Mining Art Gallery

05, 12, 19 & 26

Personal highlights, Mining Art Gallery

11 & 14 Curator’s choice, Spanish Gallery

11, 18 & 25

Objects in focus, Faith Museum

13 Stories from the archives, Auckland Castle

14 Young Archaeologists’ Club, No.42

17 & 28 Discover Volunteering, Town Hall (17) and Auckland Tower (28)

19 The paintings that made history, Auckland Castle

26 Prince Bishop Friends: Len Tabner: Elements of Darkness preview, Mining Art Gallery

28, 29 & 31

Halloween Family Fun, Weardale Railway

28 Len Tabner: Elements of Darkness opens, Mining Art Gallery

28 & 29 Medieval merriment, Auckland Castle

November

01, 02 & 03

Medieval merriment, Auckland Castle

01, 02 & 03

Extraordinary Embossing, Auckland Tower

Objects in focus, Faith Museum

02, 09, 16, 23 & 30

Personal highlights, Mining Art Gallery

02 The castle beneath our feet, Auckland Castle

04 & 05 Live tapestry weaving, Auckland Castle

04 & 05 Brought to life, Auckland Tower

04 & 05 Tapestry in 10 minutes, Auckland Castle

04 & 05 The Big Stitch, No.42

10 Michael Craig-Martin and Nicholas Cullinan, Spanish Gallery

10 Stories from the archives, Auckland Castle

11 Discover volunteering, Town Hall

11 Young Archaeologists’ Club, No.42

12 Photography trains, Weardale Railway

16 The paintings that made history, Auckland Castle

17 Discover volunteering, Town Hall

22–30 AGLOW, Auckland Castle and Deer Park

22 Curator’s choice, Spanish Gallery

25 & 26 Santa Specials, Weardale Railway

25 Christmas Wreath Workshop, Park Head Hotel

December

01–31 (except 25)

AGLOW, Auckland Castle and Deer Park

01–23 (except 3, 10 and 17)

Festive menu, Oak Room Restaurant

02, 03, 09, 10, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24

Santa Specials, Weardale Railway

06 Creative workshop: Lino-cut cards and glass bauble painting for Christmas, Mining Art Gallery

06 Curator’s choice, Spanish Gallery

06 & 13 Objects in focus, Faith Museum

07, 14 & 21

Personal highlights, Mining Art Gallery

08 Stories from the archives, Auckland Castle

09 Young Archaeologists’ Club, No.42

10 Prince Bishop Friends: Friends Christmas Gathering, Auckland Castle

13 Adorations: The Christmas story in Spanish art, Spanish Gallery

14 The paintings that made history, Auckland Castle

16 Christmas Carol Service, Auckland Castle

16 & 17 A Family Christmas at the Castle, Auckland Castle

16 & 17 Discover volunteering, Auckland Tower

25 Christmas Day dinner, Oak Room Restaurant

26 Boxing Day dinner, Oak Room Restaurant

28, 29 & 30

Mince Pie Specials, Weardale Railway

31 New Year’s Eve, Oak Room Restaurant

January

01 New Year’s Day dinner, Oak Room Restaurant

February

10 Young Archaeologists’ Club, No.42

21 & 28 Objects in focus, Faith Museum

21–25 Cosy Club, Auckland Tower

22 The Flowering Tree, Faith Museum

22 & 29 Personal highlights, Mining Art Gallery

28 An afternoon of art, Faith Museum

28 Curator’s choice, Spanish Gallery

March

06 & 13 Objects in focus, Faith Museum

07 ‘Unpicking’ Archbishop Morton’s vestments Faith Museum, Auckland Castle

07, 14, 21 & 28

Personal highlights, Mining Art Gallery

08 Stories from the archives, Auckland Castle

09 Young Archaeologists’ Club, No.42

13 & 27 Curator’s choice, Spanish Gallery

14 The paintings that made history, Auckland Castle

17 The Sound of Spain, Spanish Gallery

Regular Events

Allsorts: Mining Art Gallery Fridays see p.11 for dates

Creative Forum: Mining Art Gallery Wednesdays see p.11 for dates

Young Artists' Club: Mining Art Gallery, Thursdays see p.11 for dates

Walking for Wellbeing: Auckland Castle Gardens Wednesdays see p.5 for dates

Pregnant to Preschool: No. 42, Mondays see p.19 for dates

Paella Nights: El Castillo, Thursdays see. p.19 for dates

Services in St. Peter’s Chapel: Auckand Castle, Wednesdays see p.5 for dates

Booking events:

You can book in person at Auckland Tower or at aucklandproject.org , where you can also find out further details and venue locations.

Opening times:

Auckland Castle and Gardens, Auckland Tower, Mining Art Gallery and Spanish Gallery: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10:30-16:00 NOTE: Winter closure runs from 1 January to 20 February inclusive. Deer Park: Daily, dawn until dusk

No.42: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and selected other days; see website for details

El Castillo: Thursday, Friday and Saturday 11:30-22:00, Wednesday & Sunday 11:30-17:00

Oak Room Restaurant at the Park Head Hotel: Open 7 days a week, see parkheadhotel.co.uk for dining times

Weardale Railway: See weardale-railway.org.uk for timetables

ANNUAL PASS

The best way to enjoy The Auckland Project is with an Annual Pass.

With 12 months of access to Auckland Castle and Gardens, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the Faith Museum you can enjoy new exhibitions and our events programme for adults and families all year round.

You can purchase at Auckland Tower or if you use the code TAP10 you can get a 10% discount when buying it online at aucklandproject.org

*If you live locally in the DL4 or DL14 postcode areas, it’s even better value with our Local Annual Pass, which is only available to purchase from Auckland Tower.

01388 743 750

enquiries@aucklandproject.org

aucklandproject.org