NEW DATES! Bishop Auckland: Spanish art in Northern England

3 days | £899 per person | 30 March - 1 April 2026

Residential Lecture Course

In September 1851 the travel writer Richard Ford went for a jaunt through County Durham. He wrote to a friend of “finding a dozen paintings by Francisco de Zurbarán at Bishop Aukland”. The letter ends excitedly: “What treasures are hid in England”. What treasures indeed! Today, following a restoration of the Bishop’s Palace, these masterpieces of the Spanish baroque are once again on display, and they are joined by a new museum dedicated to the ‘Golden Age’ of Spanish Art. On this Study Trip we will tour the collection and delve into the history of Spanish art in three lectures.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Spain rose as the great superpower of Europe with an empire spanning the globe. This vast wealth, alongside the renewed Catholic fervour of the Counter Reformation, kickstarted the Spanish so-called siglo d’oro – literally the century of gold - a great flourishing of the arts. We will explore this vibrant period from the altarpieces of El Greco and Zurbarán to Diego Velázquez’s paintings for the king and the delicate religious works of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. We will also tour three exceptional collections of Spanish Art in the North of England: The Bishop’s Palace, Spanish Gallery and the Bowes Museum. These collections represent three centuries of obsession for Spanish art in Britain and will allow us to get up close and personal with some of the great hidden treasures of our isles.

Following a very popular response to our first lecture course in the charming town of Bishop Auckland, we are pleased to announce a second course in 2026. The Auckland Project is a regeneration charity working to establish Bishop Auckland as a must-visit cultural destination. Their attractions bring the rich and surprising story of Bishop Auckland to life for visitors and the local community through the arts, culture and heritage. And in turn, the profits and opportunities created by the historic attractions and community engagement work, are helping to build a bright future for Bishop Auckland.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Coach pick up at Darlington Station, and the on to the Park Head Hotel. Transfer to the Bishop's Palace, which will be opened exclusively for Art Pursuits. Refreshments will be followed by an introductory lecture given by Isabelle in the Palace library. During a private tour of the Bishop's Palace, you will discover the collection of Zurbarán's 'Jacob and his Twelve Sons' paintings, which have hung in the long dining room for 250 years. We shall enjoy a welcome reception with the founders of the Auckland project and a dinner together in the Palace. Coach return to hotel.

Day 2

After breakfast, we transfer to the Spanish Gallery, a unique and remarkable cornucopia of art, history and culture celebrating the Spanish Golden Age. Isabelle will give a second lecture, followed by a private visit of the Spanish Gallery, with some free time to visit the Faith museum and Palace gardens. Keeping with the Spanish theme, we meet for a lunch in the Tapas restaurant next door. Return to the hotel for our final lecture with Isabelle. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Day 3

After breakfast and check-out, we travel by coach to Barnard Castle, where we visit the Bowes Museum for the morning . After an independent lunch at the museum restaurant, the coach will drop off at Darlington Station for the return train to London and continue back to the hotel for those who have left their cars in the car park.

Park Head Hotel

Park Head Hotel and Restaurant is the latest addition to The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity with a difference. Set just a few minutes from Bishop Auckland, the hotel is a perfect base for our residential course,. Rooms are comfortable, recently fitted and have every facility you may require. Food is hearty and delicious, making the most of locally sourced produce, most of which is sourced from the walled garden at Auckland Castle. Parking is complimentary.

Price: £899

Single supp: £99

Deposit: £350

Departure Dates:

30 March - 1 April 2026

Duration:

2 nights / 3 days

Your course Includes:

Two nights’ bed and breakfast at the Park Head Hotel in Bishop Auckland
Private coach transfers and excursions. Pick up and drop off at Darlington station
Two evening meals and one lunch
Refreshments
Three lectures
Private visits to the Bishop's Palace and the Spanish Gallery
Private welcome reception at the Bishop's Palace with Jonathan Ruffer
Visit to Bowes Museum
Services of the tour lecturer and a tour manager
Detailed programme and Guide book
All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff

Tour Lecturer

Isabelle Kent

Isabelle is an academic and educator specialising in the art and culture of Spain. After reading History of Art at Cambridge she worked at The Wallace Collection where she fell in love with adult education and teaching in front of the object. Since then, she has taught widely for museums and universities including the V&A, University of Cambridge, NYU and Cornell. She has published on the art of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya, and she is currently completing a PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge.