Bishop Auckland 342996 225709500 2008-07-15T00:46:40Z Livitup 381429 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/86.148.244.195|86.148.244.195]] to last version by Blanchardb (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Infobox UK place | | country = England | official_name= Bishop Auckland | population = 24,392 (2001) <ref name="numbers sheet">[http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/usp.nsf/Lookup/MC%20Catchment%20Summary%20Sheets/$file/MC+Catchment+Summary+Sheets.pdf 2001 Census Profiles (Numbers) for Major Centres in County Durham], Durham County Council, Retrieved on [[2007-08-10]]</ref> | shire_district= [[Wear Valley]] | region = North East England | shire_county = [[County Durham]] | constituency_westminster=[[Bishop Auckland (UK Parliament constituency)|Bishop Auckland]] | post_town= BISHOP AUCKLAND | postcode_district = DL14 | postcode_area= DL | dial_code= 01388 | os_grid_reference= NZ208294 | latitude= 54.66 | longitude= -1.68 | london_distance= <span style="white-space:nowrap">227&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(365&nbsp;km)</span> [[Boxing the compass|SbE]] }} '''Bishop Auckland''' is a [[market town]] in [[County Durham]] in [[North East England]]. It is located about <span style="white-space:nowrap">12&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(19&nbsp;km)</span> northwest of [[Darlington]] and <span style="white-space:nowrap">12&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(19&nbsp;km)</span> southwest of [[Durham]] City at the [[Confluence (geography)|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-Seine]]<ref name="twin" />. ==History== ===Toponymy=== The first part of the name, "Bishop", refers to the town being the residence of the [[Bishop of Durham]]<ref name="Placename meanings"/>. However, the derivation of "Auckland" is thought to be less clear. One suggestion is that it is derived from "''Alclit''"<ref name="Echo Memories" /> or "''Alcleat''"<ref name="Placename meanings"/>. This could be [[Celtic languages|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 1020<ref name="Echo Memories" />. A further suggestion is that "''Oakland''", has been used to refer to the presence of forests<ref name="Placename meanings"/><ref name="Astrop" />. ===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, County Durham|South Church]] from as early as [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] times. Furthermore, the [[Roman Empire|Roman]]s had a look-out post where [[Auckland Castle]] is sited today and a 10&nbsp;acre (0.04&nbsp;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 [[Prince bishop|Bishop]] [[Hugh Pudsey|Pudsey]] established a manor house in the town<ref>Simpson, David. [http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/BishopAuckland.htm The North East England History Pages - Bishop Auckland and Surrounds]. Retrieved on [[2007-09-01]]</ref>. Bishop [[Antony Bek|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<ref>[http://www.durham.gov.uk/k2p/usp.nsf/pws/Keys+to+the+Past+-+Overviews+-+Industrial Thematic Overview - Industrial], Keys to the past. Retrieved on [[2007-09-01]].</ref>. {{Expand-section|date=August 2007}} ==Governance== From 1894 to 1974, the town was governed by the Bishop Auckland [[Urban District]] council within the [[administrative county]] of [[County Durham|Durham]]<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10042847 A vision of Bishop Auckland UD], A vision of Britain. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. 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.<ref>{{cite news | title = New Town Council for Bishop Auckland | publisher = Wear Valley District Council | date = | url = http://www.wearvalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11791 | accessdate = 2007-08-09 }}</ref>. 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.<ref>{{cite news | title = Durham unitary authority approved | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2007-07-25]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/6915882.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-09 }}</ref> The town is a part of the [[Bishop Auckland (UK Parliament constituency)|Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency]], and is currently represented at [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]] by [[Helen Goodman]] MP ([[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]). The town is in the [[North East England (European Parliament constituency)|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 {{coor dms|54|39|36|N|1|40|48|W|type:City(24392)_region:GB-DUR}} ([[British national grid reference system]]: {{gbmapscaled|NZ208294|10|NZ208294}}) 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]]<ref name="Placename meanings">{{cite web | last = Simpson | first = David | title = The North East England History Pages - Place Names | url = http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/Place%20Name%20Meanings%20A%20to%20D.htm | accessdate = 2007-08-12}}</ref><ref name="Echo Memories">{{cite news | title = Echo Memories: Tides of change in the land of Canute | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2005-07-20]] | url = http://www.northeasthistory.co.uk/the_north_east/history/echomemories/darlington/305/200705.html | accessdate = 2007-08-12 }} </ref>. The town nestles in the rivers' valley about <span style="white-space:nowrap">100&nbsp;metres&nbsp;(328&nbsp;ft)</span> above [[sea level]]. Besides this the town is all but is surrounded on all sides by hills ranging in height from around <span style="white-space:nowrap">150&nbsp;metres&nbsp;(492&nbsp;ft)</span> above sea level to over <span style="white-space:nowrap">220&nbsp;metres&nbsp;(722&nbsp;ft)</span> above sea level. Bishop Auckland is located about <span style="white-space:nowrap">12&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(19&nbsp;km)</span> northwest of [[Darlington]] and <span style="white-space:nowrap">12&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(19&nbsp;km)</span> 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 [[motorway]]s. Notable suburbs and wards include Cockton Hill, Woodhouse Close, and Henknowle. Additionally, once neighbouring villages such as [[South Church, County Durham|South Church]], [[Tindale Crescent]], [[St Helen Auckland]], and [[West Auckland]] now more or less merge seamlessly into the town. {| align="center" |+'''Neighbouring settlements.''' | {{compass-table|place=Bishop Auckland |N = [[Willington, County Durham|Willington]] (town) |NE= [[Spennymoor]] (town) |E = [[Coundon]] (village) |SE= [[Shildon]] (town) |S = [[Tindale Crescent]] (suburb/village) |SW= [[St Helen Auckland]] (suburb/village) |W = [[Toft Hill]] (village) |NW= [[Escomb]] (village) }} |} ===Climate=== {{climate chart|[[Bishop Auckland]] |0.6|6.2|56.2 |0.8|6.7|38.8 |2.1|9.0|51.1 |3.3|11.2|52.0 |5.7|14.5|49.5 |8.5|17.2|54.8 |10.7|19.8|44.5 |10.6|19.6|61.3 |8.6|16.7|57.5 |6.0|13|56.9 |3.1|9.0|61.5 |1.5|7.0|59.2 |float=right |source=<ref name="DH Climate">[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/sites/durham.html Durham 1971-2000 averages], [[Met Office]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-20]].</ref> }} The nearest [[Met Office]] weather station to Bishop Auckland is located <span style="white-space:nowrap">8&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(13&nbsp;km)</span> north-east of Bishop Auckland in Durham. The following local figures were gathered at this weather station between 1971 and 2000. {{Clear}} Like the rest of the [[United Kingdom]], Bishop Auckland has a [[temperate]] climate. At <span style="white-space:nowrap">643.3&nbsp;[[millimetre]]s&nbsp;(25&nbsp;[[inch|in]])</span><ref name="DH Climate" /> the average annual rainfall is lower than the national average of <span style="white-space:nowrap">1,125&nbsp;millimetres&nbsp;(44&nbsp;in)</span><ref name="UK Climate">[http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/areal/uk.html UK 1971-2000 averages], [[Met Office]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-20]].</ref>. Equally there are only around 121.3 days<ref name="DH Climate" /> where more than <span style="white-space:nowrap">1&nbsp;millimetre&nbsp;(0.04&nbsp;in)</span> of rain falls compared with a national average of 154.4&nbsp;days<ref name="UK Climate" />. The area sees on average 1374.6&nbsp;hours of sunshine per year<ref name="DH Climate" />, compared with a national average of 1125.0&nbsp;hours<ref name="UK Climate" />. There is an [[air frost]] on 52&nbsp;days<ref name="DH Climate" /> compared with a national average of 55.6&nbsp;days<ref name="UK Climate" />. Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures are <span style="white-space:nowrap">12.5&nbsp;[[Celsius|°C]]&nbsp;(54.5&nbsp;[[Fahrenheit|°F]])</span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap">5.2&nbsp;°C&nbsp;(41.4&nbsp;°F)</span><ref name="DH Climate" />compared with a national averages of <span style="white-space:nowrap">12.1&nbsp;°C&nbsp;(53.8&nbsp;°F)</span> and <span style="white-space:nowrap">5.1&nbsp;°C&nbsp;(41.2&nbsp;°F)</span> respectively<ref name="UK Climate" />. <table align="center"> <td>{{Durham weatherbox}}</td> </table> == Demography == {| id="toc" style="float: right; margin-left: 2em; width: 40%; font-size: 90%;" cellspacing="3" !colspan="4"|'''Bishop Auckland Compared''' |- |width=120px|'''[[United Kingdom Census 2001|UK Census 2001]]<ref name="Rates sheet">[http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/usp.nsf/Lookup/MC%20Catchment%20Summary%20Sheets%20rates/$file/MC+Catchment+Summary+Sheets+rates.pdf 2001 Census Profiles (Rates) for Major Centres in County Durham], Durham County Council. Retrieved on [[2007-08-10]].</ref><ref name="numbers sheet"/>'''||'''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% |}According to the 2001 census, Bishop Auckland has a population of 24,392, living in 10,336 dwellings. Of these dwellings, around 44% are terraced houses, 33% semi-detached houses, and 17% detached houses. Compared with the national average, the town's 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 with the national average of 21.1%. 84.8% of the town's population identify themselves as [[Christian]], compared with 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 with the national average of 14.8%. At 1.5% of the population, the town has a below average population of foreign born individuals, compared with a national average of 8.9%. [[Image:Bishop Auckland Population Pyramid.png|thumb|607px|center|"[[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:<ref name="Rates sheet" />]] ==Economy== [[Image:County Durham GVA.png|thumb|305px|Graph showing unadjusted [[gross value added]] (GVA) in County Durham across 3 industries at current basic prices from 1995 to 2004.<br>'''Legend''' {{legend|#ffff00|Agriculture, hunting and forestry}} {{legend|#9c3100|Industry, including energy and construction}} {{legend|#000084|Service activities}} {{legend|#000000|Total}}Source:<ref>[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/NUTS3_Tables_1-12.xls NUTS3 GVA (1995-2004) Data], [[Office for National Statistics]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-31]].</ref> ]] 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 employment<ref name="Rates sheet" />. The town also traditionally had a strong retail sector<ref>{{cite news | title = £2.4m 'people's plan' to revive economy of market town | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2000-08-09]] | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2000/8/9/194536.html | accessdate = 2007-08-24 }}</ref>, 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 [[Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead|Gateshead]], the decline in the mining industry has been blamed for a downturn in the fortunes of retailers<ref>{{cite news | title = Action plan aims to revive town fortunes | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2000-10-26]] | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2000/10/26/188625.html | accessdate = 2007-08-24 }}</ref>, with commentators lamenting the number of down market stores and [[charity shop]]s in the town centre<ref>{{cite news | title = End of an era as charity shop pioneer pulls out | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2000-06-13]] | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2000/8/9/194536.html | accessdate = 2007-08-24 }}</ref>. Notable employers in the town include [[Ebac]], which is headquartered in the town and employs 350 people<ref>{{cite news | title = Ebac turns its eyes to Far East | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2006-11-16]] | url = http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/search/display.var.1024104.0.ebac_turns_its_eyes_to_far_east.php | accessdate = 2007-08-24 }}</ref>. The chart and table summarise unadjusted [[gross value added]] (GVA) in millions of [[GBP|pounds sterling]] for County Durham across 3 industries at current basic prices from 1995 to 2004. {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan=2 | !! colspan=3 | [[Gross value added|Gross Value Added (GVA)]] (£m) |- ! 1995 !! 2000 !! 2004 |- | Agriculture, hunting and forestry || align="center" | 45 || align="center" | 33 || align="center" | 48 |- | Industry, including energy and construction || align="center" | 1751 || align="center" | 1827 || align="center" | 1784 |- | Service activities || align="center" | 2282 || align="center" | 2869 || align="center" | 3455 |- | '''Total''' || align="center" | 4078 || align="center" | 4729 || align="center" | 5288 |- | '''UK''' || align="center" | 640416 || align="center" | 840979 || align="center" | 1044165 |} == Landmarks == [[Image:Auckland Castle - Gatehouse.jpg|thumb|[[Auckland Castle]]'s Gatehouse]] [[Image:Bishop Auckland Town Hall.jpg|thumb|Bishop Auckland Town Hall]] [[Image:DSCF1552.JPG|thumb|Bishop Auckland Viaduct.]] [[Image:Escombe Church.jpg|thumb|[[Escomb Church|Escomb Saxon Church]]]] [[Image:South Church.jpg|thumb|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 Church|Escomb Saxon Church]] and [[Binchester]] Roman Fort are also close by. Also central to the town is Bishop Auckland's only skyscraper, Vinovium House. === Auckland Castle === {{main|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 Bishop]]s of [[Diocese of Durham|Durham]] <ref>[http://www.auckland-castle.co.uk/hist.htm Castle History], [[Auckland Castle]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. The castle is surrounded by <span style="white-space:nowrap">800&nbsp;[[acre]]s&nbsp;(3.24&nbsp;[[square kilometre|km²]])</span> of parkland, which was originally used by the Bishops for hunting and is today open to the public<ref>[http://www.auckland-castle.co.uk/grnds.htm Castle Grounds], [[Auckland Castle]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. 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 of Durham|Bishop]] [[Richard Trevor (bishop)|Trevor]] in 1756<ref>{{cite news | title = London should keep its hands off the treasures of the north | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = [[2005-10-07]] | url = http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1586992,00.html | accessdate = 2007-08-21 }} </ref>. Trevor was unable to secure the 13th, [[Benjamin]], so commissioned [[Arthur Pond]] to produce a copy, which hangs alongside the 12 other originals<ref> {{cite news | title = Bid to keep castle paintings in N-E | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2001-05-14]] | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2001/5/14/171061.html | accessdate = 2007-08-21 }}</ref>. === Binchester Roman Fort === {{main|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 [[Binchester]]<ref name="Visit" />. Binchester [[Ancient Rome|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 country<ref name="Walks" />. Bishop Auckland's main shopping street, Newgate Street, together with Cockton Hill Road and Watling Road faithfully follow the route of Dere Street<ref name="Visit">[http://www.wearvalley.gov.uk/media/pdf/t/j/VisitorGuide07_1.pdf Visit Wear Valley], Wear Valley District Council. Retrieved on [[2007-08-22]].</ref>. 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|Bishop Auckland Town Hall}} The [[Town Hall]] is a "Gothic style" [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] Building overlooking the town's market place and is [[Grade II* listed]]<ref>[http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=385723 Bishop Auckland Town Hall], [[Images of England]], [[2001-04-08]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. After being abandoned and then condemned for demolition in the eighties{{Fact|date=August 2007}}, 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-bar<ref name="Walks" />. === Bishop Auckland railway viaduct === The town also has a Grade II listed Victorian [[Railway]] [[Viaduct]] crossing the [[River Wear]]<ref name="Viaduct">[http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=1&id=460431 Newton Cap Railway Viaduct], [[Images of England]], [[2006-03-05]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]]</ref>. 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 1857<ref name="Viaduct" /><ref name="Walks">[http://www.wearvalley.gov.uk/media/pdf/3/k/WalkingCycling07_1.pdf Walking and Cycling Routes in Wear Valley], Wear Valley District Council. Retrieved on [[2007-08-22]].</ref> 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 1968<ref name="Walks" /> and the viaduct fell into a period of disuse and was at one point threatened with demolition{{Fact|date=August 2007}}. However, in 1995 the viaduct has been converted to take road traffic relieving the fourteenth century single lane Bishop [[Walter Skirlaw|Skirlaw]] bridge that sits in the valley below it<ref name="Walks" />. === Escomb Saxon church === {{main|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<ref name="Escomb Church">[http://www.escombsaxonchurch.com/History.htm History of the Church], [[Escomb Saxon Church]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-23]].</ref>. Much of the stone used to construct the church came from the nearby [[Binchester Roman Fort|Roman fort at Binchester]], with some stones having Roman markings on them<ref name="Escomb Church" />. The church is a Grade I listed structure<ref>[http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=1&id=385740 The Saxon Church, Saxon Green, Escomb], [[Images of England]], [[2000-08-08]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]]</ref>. === St Andrew's Church === St Andrew's church located in the adjoining village of South Church is a Grade I listed building<ref>[http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=1&id=385637 St Andrew's parish church], [[Images of England]], [[2000-08-11]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]]</ref>. The church was built by [[Augustinians|Augustine]] monks in the thirteenth century and acted as a [[collegiate church]]<ref name="Visit" />. It is the largest church in County Durham<ref>Simpson, David. [http://www.northeastengland.talktalk.net/Churches.htm The North East England History Pages - Churches, Abbeys, Priories and Cathedrals of North East England]. Retrieved on [[2007-11-20]]</ref>. === Vinovium House === Vinovium House stands on a small hill at the southerly end of the town's viaduct. At 8 storeys high, it is the tallest structure in the town and can be seen from many points throughout Bishop Auckland. Vinovium House is the local headquarters for the [[Department of Work and Pensions]]. The name Vinovium comes from the [[Latin]] name for the Roman fort at Binchester, which was known as ''Vinovium'' or ''Vinovia''. During the early part of the 21st Century, the whole building underwent a refurbishment, and was upgraded to include [[UPVC]] double glazing throughout. Views from the upper levels on a good day can stretch as far as [[Toronto, County Durham|Toronto]] to the north west, and [[Eldon]] to the south east. ==Transport== [[Image:Bishop Auckland Railway Station.jpg|thumb|[[Bishop Auckland railway station]]]] 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]]<ref>Carpenter, George W. , [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/37500 Hackworth, Timothy (1786–1850)], [[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]], [[Oxford University Press]], 2004. Retrieved on [[2008-01-26]]</ref>. 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. Freight traffic ceased to use the line between [[Eastgate, County Durham|Eastgate]] and [[Darlington]] completely in 1993 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 <span style="white-space:nowrap">19&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(31&nbsp;km)</span> drive South-East of Bishop Auckland. The nearest motorway junction is Junction 60 of the [[A1(M)]], which is around <span style="white-space:nowrap">8&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(13&nbsp;km)</span> 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]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Go-Ahead will use green diesel | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2006-02-18]] | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/2/18/218627.html | accessdate = 2007-08-23 }}</ref>. However, a number of smaller firms such as [[Weardale buses]] also serve the town. ==Education== {{further|[[List of schools in the North East of England#Durham|List of Schools in Durham LEA]]}} [[Image:Bishop Auckland GCSE results.png|thumb|303px|Chart showing the percentage of pupils at each school achieving 5+ [[GCSE]]s (including Maths and English) at grade A*-C compared with national and LEA averages<ref name="King James7"> {{cite news | title = League Tables: King James I Community Arts College | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2007-01-11]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_4178.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-20}}</ref> <ref name="King James8"> {{cite news | title = League Tables: King James I Community Arts College | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2008-01-10]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_4178.stm | accessdate = 2008-02-20}}</ref> <ref name="St John 7">{{cite news | title = League Tables: St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form Centre | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2007-01-11]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_4681.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref> <ref name="St John 8">{{cite news | title = League Tables: St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form Centre | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2008-01-10]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_4681.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-10 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite news | title = League Tables: Bishop Barrington School | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2007-01-11]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/06/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_4162.stm | accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref> <ref>{{cite news | title = League Tables: Bishop Barrington School | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2008-01-10]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_4162.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-10 }}</ref> <br>'''Legend''' {{legend|#800080|[[Bishop Barrington School]]}} {{legend|#000080|King James Community College}} {{legend|#FF9900|[[St John's RC Comprehensive School]]}} {{legend|#000000|National Average}} {{legend|#FF00FF|LEA Average}} ]] [[Image:Bishop Auckland A-Level results.png|thumb|301px|Graph showing average [[A-Level]] points score per students at sixth form's attended by Bishop Auckland students, compared with the national average and Durham LEA average.]] The town itself has 3 [[secondary school]]s - [[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 [[Prince-Bishop|Bishop]] [[Shute Barrington|Barrington]] and in 1604<ref name="short history" /> on the orders of [[James I of England|King James I]] respectively<ref name="Astrop">[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=50769 Astrop - Auckland, Bishop], A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 108-12. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]]. </ref>. 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 [[County Durham|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 school]]<ref name="short history" />, 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 with how much other schools in the country improve students with similar circumstances, King James with 1038.3&nbsp;points performs better than all of St John's (1008.5&nbsp;points), Barrington (1018.3&nbsp;points) and the LEA average of 1006.9 points. At [[A-Level]] none of the towns sixth form centres reach the national average of 731.1&nbsp;A-Level points per student and only St John's, with an average 709.4&nbsp;points, beats the LEA average of 651.7&nbsp;points<ref name="St John 8" />. In comparison, Bishop Auckland College has an average A-Level score of 526.9 points<ref>{{cite news | title = League Tables: Bishop Auckland College | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2008-01-10]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/840_8002.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-10 }}</ref> and King James an average points score of 502.5<ref name="King James8" />. 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 878.9<ref>{{cite news | title = League Tables: Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = [[2008-01-10]] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/education/07/school_tables/secondary_schools/html/841_8600.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-10 }}</ref> The needs of those with [[special educational needs]] are served by Evergreen Primary. Schools in the town serving [[primary education|primary]] age education are detailed in the table below. {| class="wikitable" |- ! School !! Results !! Website |- | Cockton Hill Infant | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114111 Ofsted] || http://www.cocktonhill-inf.durham.sch.uk/ |- | Cockton Hill Junior | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114110 Ofsted] || http://www.cocktonhilljuniors.co.uk/ |- | Copeland Road Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114187 Ofsted] || http://www.copelandroad.durham.sch.uk/ |- | Etherley Lane Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114097 Ofsted] || http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/elane.durham/ |- | Oakley Cross Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114069 Ofsted] || http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/oakleyx.durham/ |- | St Andrew's Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114188 Ofsted] ||align="center"| - |- | St Anne's CofE Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114220 Ofsted] || http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/annespri/ |- | St Helen Auckland Community Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114104 Ofsted] ||align="center"| - |- | St Wilfrid's RC Primary | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114262 Ofsted] ||http://www.st-wilfrids.durham.sch.uk/ |- | Woodhouse Close Infant | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114116 Ofsted] ||align="center"| - |- | Woodhouse Close Junior | [http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/reports/index.cfm?fuseaction=summary&id=114117 Ofsted] ||align="center"| - |} ==Healthcare== {{See also|Bishop Auckland General Hospital}} [[Image:Bishop Auckland General.jpg|thumb|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 <ref>[http://www.cddft.nhs.uk/Contact+Us/Hospital+Sites/BishopAucklandGeneralHospital.htm Bishop Auckland General Hospital], County Durham and Darlington [[NHS]] Foundation Trust. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]]</ref>. The hospital also has a doctor led [[Emergency department|A&E]] department<ref>[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Secondarycare/Configuringhospitals/DH_4000641 Configuring Hospitals - Bishop Auckland Hospital], [[Department of Health (United Kingdom)|Department of Health]], [[2007-02-08]]. Retrieved on [[2008-01-26]]</ref>. The new hospital was a [[Private Finance Initiative|PFI]] project and was announced by the [[Labour party (UK)|Labour]] government in the summer of 1997<ref>{{cite news | title = Ministers have given the go-ahead to 14 hospital building schemes | publisher = [[The Times]] | date = [[1997-07-04]]}}</ref>. It replaced the old Bishop Auckland General Hospital which had been housed in the town's [[workhouse]] buildings<ref>[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/hospitalrecords/details.asp?id=313&page=6 Hospital Records Database - Bishop Auckland General Hospital], [[The National Archives]]. Retrieved on [[2007-09-06]]</ref> 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 F.C.|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 occasions<ref name="short history" />. Bishop Auckland Football Club also helped out giants Manchester United after the Munich Air Crash in 1958 by donating 3 of their players, Derek Lewin, Bob Hardisty and Warren Bradley, to the Red Devils. This formed a bond between the two clubs that lasts to this day. In recent years Manchester United played a friendly match at Kingsaway, then home of the Bishops, to raise money for the cash strapped minnows. And only last year Manchester United donated floodlights to Bishop Auckland Football Club as they move into a new ground. 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<ref name="World Cup">{{cite news | title = World Cup winners prepare to tackle new kids on block | publisher = [[The Independent]] | date = [[2006-10-04]] | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/world-cup-winners-prepare-to-tackle-new-kids-on-block-418582.html | accessdate = 2007-08-09 }}</ref>. 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]]<ref>[http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/56067 The World Cup - A Captain's Tale], Film & TV Database, [[British Film Institute|BFI]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. 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 club]]<ref name="World Cup" />. ==Notable people== [[Image:Laurel and Hardy in Lucky Dog.jpg|thumb|[[Stan Laurel]] (Left) lived in the town during his childhood]] [[Image:Anthony Eden visiting Canada 1954 cropped.jpg|thumb|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<ref name="short history">{{cite web | last =Laurie | first = Barbara | title = A Short History of Bishop Auckland | publisher = Bishop Auckland Town | url = http://www.bishopaucklandtown.org/history1.asp?HistoryId=15 | accessdate = 2007-08-20 }}</ref>. His parents owned the now demolished Eden Theatre, which was located at the junction of Newgate Street and South Church Road<ref>Land, John. [http://www.bishopaucklandtown.org/directory5.asp?businessId=423 Walk with Stan Laurel in Bishop Auckland], Bishop Auckland Town. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]]. </ref>, before selling to the Donoghue family{{Fact|date=August 2007}}. A [[Wetherspoons]] pub recently opened in the town named after Stan. <ref> [http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/pubs/pub-details.php?PubNumber=5268] </ref> Politician, Sir [[Anthony Eden]], who was [[Prime Minister]] of the UK between 1955 and 1957, was born in Bishop Auckland<ref>[http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page132.asp Sir Anthony Eden - PMs in History], [[10 Downing Street]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. As was, [[Peter Soulsby]], the current [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Leicester South (constituency)|Leicester South]],<ref>[http://www.petersoulsby.org/peter-soulsby-bio.html Biography of Peter Soulsby], [[Peter Soulsby]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref> and [[Mansfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Mansfield]] MP [[Alan Meale]]<ref>[http://www.alanmeale.co.uk/cv.html Alan Meale's CV], [[Alan Meale]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. [[Jeremiah Dixon]], Astronomer and Surveyor of the [[Mason-Dixon Line]]<ref>[http://www.hyperarts.com/pynchon/mason-dixon/extra/dixon_bio.html Biography of Jeremiah Dixon], [[Dictionary of National Biography]], [[Oxford University Press]], 1993. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>, [[soccer|footballer]] [[Charlie Wayman]] who played for [[Newcastle United]], [[Middlesbrough FC]], and [[Southampton FC]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Obituary - Charlie Wayman | publisher = [[The Guardian]] | date = [[2006-02-07]] | url = http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1725294,00.html | accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref>, Actor [[Christopher Hancock]], who played [[Charlie Cotton]] in [[Eastenders]]<ref>{{cite news | title = Obituary - Christopher Hancock | publisher = [[The Independent]] | date = [[2004-11-19]] | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20041119/ai_n12818964 | accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref>, [[Middlesbrough F.C.]] goalkeeper [[Ross Turnbull]]<ref> {{cite news | title = Soccerbase: Ross Turnbull | publisher = [[The Racing Post]] | date = | url = http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=37002 | accessdate = 2007-09-20}}</ref>, Town planner [[Thomas Wilfred Sharp]]<ref> Stansfield, K. M. [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/31673 Sharp, Thomas Wilfred (1901–1978)], [[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]], [[Oxford University Press]], 2004. Retrieved on [[2008-01-25]]</ref> and [[Craig Raine]], the poet and critic<ref>[http://www.contemporarywriters.com/authors/?p=auth212 Craig Raine], Contemporary Writers, The [[British Council]]. Retrieved [[2007-08-21]].</ref> were also all 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]]<ref>[http://www.durham.gov.uk/dli/DLI.nsf/DLINotes?readform&MODE=T&ID=10423&SURNAME=Bradford DLI Medal Collection - Roland Boys Bradford], [[Durham Light Infantry|DLI]] Museum. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref>. Actor [[John Reed (actor)|John Reed]], was born and spent his childhood in the nearby village of [[Close House, Durham|Close House]]<ref>{{cite book | last = Reed | first = John | title = Nothing Whatever to Grumble At | publisher = [[Xlibris|Xlibris Corporation]] | date = 2006 | pages = p2 | isbn = 1425702554}}</ref>. One of the UK's most prolific serial killers, [[Mary Ann Cotton]], lived in the nearby village of [[West Auckland]]. She was [[hanging|hanged]] at [[Durham (HM Prison)|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<ref>{{cite news | title = Mary Ann Cotton still rotten | publisher = [[The Northern Echo]] | date = [[2002-03-22]] | url = http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2002/3/22/141810.html | accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref>. [[Frederick William Faber]], the theologian and catholic priest, was educated at the town's [[grammar school]]<ref>[http://www.ely.anglican.org/about/good_and_great/faber.html The Good & The Great - Frederick William Faber], The [[Diocese of Ely]]. Retrieved on [[2007-08-21]].</ref> == Cultural references == [[Lewis Carroll]] set the story "''A Legend of Scotland''" at [[Auckland Castle]]. == Twin towns == Bishop Auckland is twinned with the [[France|French]] town of [[Ivry-sur-Seine]], whilst the wider Wear Valley district is twinned with [[Bad Oeynhausen]] in [[Germany]]<ref name="twin">[http://www.wearvalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3913 Twinning], Wear Valley District Council. Retrieved [[2007-08-20]].</ref> == See also == * [[Baron Foster of Bishop Auckland]] * [[Baron Auckland]] ==References== <references /> ==External links== {{commonscat|Bishop Auckland}} *[http://www.bishopaucklandtown.org/ Bishop Auckland Town Website] *[http://www.wearvalley.gov.uk/ Wear Valley District Council] *[http://www.durham.gov.uk/ Durham County Council] <!-- To be moved to separate articles on these --> *[http://www.bishopaucklandtownhall.org.uk/ Bishop Auckland Town Hall] {{Durham}} [[Category:Towns in County Durham]] [[Category:Market towns in England]] [[nl:Bishop Auckland]] [[no:Bishop Auckland]] [[ro:Bishop Auckland]] [[vo:Bishop Auckland]]