URPoint Details
The first part of the name, "Bishop", refers to the land being owned by and the town being the residence of the Bishop of Durham. The present form of the name almost certainly comes from Old Norse Aukland meaning 'additional land'.
The Romans had a look-out post where Auckland Castle is sited today and a 10 acre (0.04 km²) fort at nearby Binchester. There is also evidence of possible Iron Age settlements around the town, together with finds of Bronze Age, Neolithic, and Mesolithic artefacts.
The town at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless. The town nestles in the rivers' valley about 100 metres (330 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 (490 ft) above sea level to over 220 metres (720 ft) above sea level.
The Church of St Andrew is Saxon in origin only a cross carved with Christ remains. The church dates mainly from the late 13th century with its west tower and two storey south porch. There is a fine effigy of a knight sitting cross legged in oak from 1340.
Location: on the A689, 11m southwest of
- Type:
- Landmark