Auckland Castle Entrance Gateway

Auckland Castle entrance gateway, located in Bishop Auckland, was built in 1760 by Sir Thomas Robinson of Rokeby for Bishop William Trevor. This castle gateway is constructed of ashlar stone with ashlar dressings and features lead roofs in a Gothick style. The design includes a high vehicle arch flanked by lower screen walls that have pedestrian arches. The moulded pointed arch is supported by imposts and chamfered pilasters, and is flanked by triple shafts with clasping rings that culminate in tall octagonal spirelets with bud finials.

The spandrels feature recessed pairs of Gothic daggers, while the narrow set-back side sections contain niches with ogee heads beneath pierced quatrefoils. The gateway also has an architrave, frieze, and cornice that resemble a Classical entablature, topped with a battlemented parapet. Behind the parapet, there is a square clock tower set on a sloping, lead-covered plinth, featuring angle pilasters with ball-topped obelisk finials and a low pyramidal lead spire with a ball finial. The tower has clocks on the east and west sides, and blind quatrefoils with cross slits on the north and south.

The central arch includes quadripartite ribs and a pointed arched door surround with an oak panelled door in the south wall. The flanking lower side walls have moulded pointed arches and an eaves string below the battlements. The rear elevation mirrors the front. The vehicle and pedestrian gates feature spear-headed alternate principals and dogbars, while the pedestrian arches are fitted with wrought-iron guards in the arch heads.