Auckland Castle Trust acquires Roman tourist attraction for £2 million

A £2 million bid by the Auckland Castle Trust to save Binchester Roman Town has been accepted.

The Auckland Castle Trust launched an 11th hour bid last month to prevent Binchester falling into the hands of developers after the put the historical remains up for sale split over two separate lots.

The multi-million pound offer by the Trust to buy the site on the banks of the River Wear in County Durham in its entirety ahead of a September 18 tender deadline, was turned down by the commissioners

But now the Trust’s original £2 million bid has been accepted for the fort, described as one of the best preserved Roman archaeological sites in Britain, on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland.

Dr Chris Ferguson, Auckland Castle’s head curator, said: “This is wonderful news and we are delighted that Binchester will now be protected for future generations.

“Contracts still have to be exchanged, but the Auckland Castle Trust has successfully come through the tender process as the preferred bidder and now we can start to look to the future of this vitally important site and ensure its past and status as one of not just Britain’s but Europe’s most important Roman sites is secured.

“Here at Auckland Castle we have been thrilled by the goodwill and support we have received from so many people as we strove to raise awareness about Binchester and our bid to save it for the nation.”

“Our first priorities are to secure the site for the winter, work with Durham County Council and English Heritage to help shape Binchester’s future and to start pulling together plans to ensure the Roman remains continue to be available for archaeologists and the public to enjoy for generations to come.

“We are also keen to see the fort developed sympathetically as a tourist destination for the benefit of Bishop Auckland and to add to the region’s already rich visitor offering.”

This included launching an e-petition urging the Church Commissioners not to sell the Binchester plots to separate buyers and asking for public support for the Auckland Castle Trust’s £2 million bid.

To date the appeal on change.org had generated more than 4,000 signatures backing the campaign.