THE grand former home of the Prince Bishops of Durham was once even bigger than it is today, archaeologists have discovered.

Excavation works at Auckland Castle, in Bishop Auckland, unearthed the remains of old perimeter walls and a network of buildings stretching beyond the present footprint.

Evidence of a pillared gatehouse and majestic staircase, thought to date back to the 13th or 14th century, was found as well as a long room with four large fireplaces, from between the 15th and 17th century, indicating a kitchen that served the castle.

The finds suggest the 900-year-old castle has always stood as a complex befitting of the Prince Bishop’s status as the second most powerful man in England after the King.

The discoveries were made during a five-month dig around the Scotland Wing ahead of its development and extension into a faith museum as part of a major transformation of the site.

Peter Carne, manager of Archaeological Services Durham University, said: “The massive scale and importance of the castle in the past has really become apparent.”

The work helps build a picture of what life was like at Auckland Castle, particularly in the time of Prince Bishop Anthony Bek who was Bishop of Durham from 1283 to 1311.

A key figure in Medieval England, Bek helped shape the landscape of British faith and politics and the excavation hints at the opulence he enjoyed.

A trove of rare and unexpected artefacts were also found including a Roman coin and copper figurine, pottery and bone dating from the medieval period onwards, a collection of pins, window glass, medieval silver pennies, an iron key and a thimble.

The discoveries will help the curatorial team at Auckland Castle Trust share the site’s story with visitors following its £17m restoration of Auckland Castle, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), which is due for completion in 2018.

Curatorial director Christopher Ferguson said: “We’re really excited to have uncovered such a major finding at Auckland Castle, revealing the original scale of the Castle, which was much larger than was previously known.

“Looking to the future, we hope to add to the story of the lives of the Prince Bishops over the next few years, working on a research focused archaeological project that will reveal even more about the original Castle, its structure and contents.

“We will continue to work with the committed volunteers from Bishop Auckland, whose overwhelming support and community spirit have been such a great help in conducting the excavation.”

The restoration of Auckland Castle is part of a £70m project by Auckland Castle Trust. To find out more visit aucklandcastle.org