Auckland Palace Deer House and Park

About

A charming Gothic Revival 'eyecatcher' built in 1760 in the park of the Bishops of Durham. It provided deer with shelter and food, and had grounds for picnics and rooms for enjoying the view.

The deer house can be reached on foot from the palace through semi-wooded public parkland. Paths are very uneven and part of the route is over grass.

The building is almost square, comprising a courtyard, where the deer were fed, surrounded by an arcade that was once roofed with slates. In the centre of the north side is an arched gateway, flanked by square pilasters, and on the south side is a two-storey tower, its first-floor room overlooking the interior.

The building was probably designed by Thomas Wright who also produced designs for a gateway to the park in a similar style, though this was never built.

The deer house is a rare and well-preserved example of 18th century Gothic Revival architecture – a fanciful interpretation of medieval buildings – in the form of a mock castle with battlements, arrow loops, pinnacles and pointed arches.

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