Auckland Palace unearthed in BBC series

A new episode of Digging for Britain, airing on BBC Two, explores groundbreaking archaeological discoveries at Auckland Palace in Bishop Auckland, County Durham.

Led by Durham University’s Archaeology Department, as well as local volunteers and staff from regeneration charity The Auckland Project, the dig unveiled the remains of a historic 17th-century house built by Parliamentarian Sir Arthur Haselrig, a prominent figure during the English Civil War, who became Governor of Newcastle in 1647 and regained Tynemouth from the Royalists in 1648.  

The excavation, showcased in the ‘North’ episode, reveals rooms constructed using stone from the medieval chapel Haselrig demolished after acquiring the palace during Cromwell’s Interregnum following the execution of King Charles I in 1649.

The findings highlight Auckland Palace’s turbulent history, from the opulence of the Prince Bishops to Haselrig’s radical reforms and his imprisonment in the Tower following the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, after which Auckland Palace was returned to the Church of England and Haselrig’s home, which was never completed or lived in, was demolished. 

Professor Chris Gerrard, the academic lead on the project from the Department of Archaeology, Durham University, said: “It’s not often that houses of this period survive so well, so being able to examine the evidence of these decades of regime change after the Civil Wars is very special.

“Sir Arthur Haselrig lived in a tumultuous time and our evidence sheds light on the competing ideologies, hopes and dreams of the people responsible for the construction and destruction of Auckland Palace. 

“It makes for exciting archaeology and great television and we’re glad Digging for Britain has been able to capture and share the discoveries.”

John Castling, archaeology curator at The Auckland Project, added: “It was a privilege to have the Digging for Britain team with us for a second time, to showcase what’s been found on our summer excavation at Auckland Palace.

“It was great to share the excitement of these discoveries with local residents and visitors through guided tours of our dig sites during the summer excavation. 

“For anyone who missed those, you can now get an up-close view of the archaeology from your living room!”

The episode airs on 14 January, with all episodes of Digging for Britain now available on BBC iPlayer.

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