Building on the success of Bishop Auckland Advent Windows in 2017 and 2018, this year Bishop Auckland Town Team in partnership with David and Pam Pott are delivering an ambitious and creative advent windows display.
Involving the construction of 24 life size models – one for each day of window openings. The aim of this year’s display is to celebrate the unique heritage of Bishop Auckland and the traditional nativity story.
As well as creating models of Joseph, Mary, Gabriel, the infant Jesus, various animals, a crib and a star. We will also be creating 13 figures from the nativity inspired by the series of paintings, Jacob and His Twelve Sons, by Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán, which have been housed in the Long Dining Room at Auckland Castle for more than 250 years.
The paintings, which were placed in trust for the community alongside the Castle in 2012, have been on tour in America and Israel in recent years so this is a fantastic opportunity for us all to mark their return home to Bishop Auckland and the re-opening of the 900 year-old Castle following a multi-million pound conservation led by The Auckland Project.
Each of the high-quality figures will be created by students from a different local school, with the schools then having the opportunity to take them back into the classroom after the public display, as a permanent prompt for further study and discussion.
Below are the list of shops and businesses that are taking part this year alongside the school / organisations that are creating the window displays.
Friday 29th November @ 4:30pm = Auckland Tower, Market Place (St Joseph’s RCVA Primary School)
Monday 2nd December @ 11:00am = Bondgate Gallery, 51 Fore Bondgate (Cockton Hill Infants’ School)
Tuesday 3rd December @ 11:00am = Emilys, 142 Newgate Street (Etherley Lane Primary School)
Wednesday 4th December @ 11:00am = Trimmers Hair Design, 156 Newgate Street (Aclet Close Nursery School)
Thursday 5th December @ 11:00am = Head In The Clouds, 2b Fore Bondgate (Prince Bishop’s Primary School)
Friday 6th December @ 11:00am = Hidden Treasures, 99 Newgate Street (King James I Academy)
Saturday 7th December @ 11:00am = Scope, 12 Newgate Street (Daisy Arts – Youth Programme)
Sunday 8th December @ 12:15pm = Specsavers, 45 Newgate Street (Daisy Arts – Adult Programme)
Monday 9th December @ 11:00am = Peacocks, 70 Newgate Street (Witton-le-Wear Primary School)
Tuesday 10th December @ 11:00am = British Heart Foundation, 124 Newgate Street (St Anne’s CE Primary School)
Wednesday 11th December @ 11:00am = SAKS, 113 Newgate Street (Bishop Auckland College)
Thursday 12th December @ 11:00am = Tinkers Treasures, 50 Fore Bondgate (St John’s School and 6th Form College)
Friday 13th December @ 11:00am = Nip & Tuck, 61 Fore Bondgate (Etherley Lane Nursery School)
Saturday 14th December @ 11:00am = Inspiral Cycles, 137 Newgate Street (1st Witton Park Brownies)
Sunday 15th December @ 12:30pm = Morrisons, Bob Hardistry Drive (Wear Valley Christian Centre)
Monday 16th December @ 11:00am = Beverleys, 9 Fore Bondgate (Woodhouse Community Primary School)
Tuesday 17th December @ 11:00am = Forces Support, Unit 10 Newgate Centre (Innovations)
Wednesday 18th December @ 11:00am = Butterwick Hospice Shop, 60-62 Newgate Street (Bishop Barrington School)
Thursday 19th December @ 11:00am = Peekaboo, 159 Newgate Street (St Wilfrid’s RCVA Primary School)
Friday 20th December @ 11:00am = Baby & Toddler Kingdom, 153 Newgate Street (Escomb Primary School)
Saturday 21st December @ 11:00am = The Dog House, 10 North Bondgate (Home Ed gang)
Sunday 22nd December @ 12:15pm = Fifteas Vintage Tearoom, 9 Market Place (St Anne’s Church)
Monday 23rd December @ 11:00am = Get Free Books, 59 Newgate Street (The Venue Stanley)
Tuesday 24th December @ 11:30am = St Peters Chapel, Auckland Castle (Oakleaf Community)
On Christmas Eve there will be a parade with all 24 models being taken from their shop window displays and paraded through the streets of Bishop Auckland to Auckland Castle.
Advent Windows is organised by Bishop Auckland Town Team in partnership with David and Pam Pott – for more information telephone 07932 790 525 or email – badventwindows@gmail.com
The project is funded by Northern Heartlands and other generous donors and is also supported by The Auckland Project.
Download your printable PDF version of the list of shops with times and dates below:
Read more about the success of the 2018 Bishop Auckland Advent Windows.
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