PEOPLE had the chance to see a County Durham town from a different angle on the opening day of new tourist attraction.

The Auckland Tower, in Bishop Auckland's Market Place, opened today.

It is the latest attraction from the Auckland Project, and has been designed by architect Niall McLaughlin to reflect the history of the town.

Members of the public queued for the chance to climb the 29-metre high tower.

 

Mavis Adlington, 85, who has lived in Bishop Auckland all her life, said: "It's absolutely wonderful. It's beyond people's expectations. People just saw the sticks of wood and weren't too sure about it but it's wonderful.

"We should be really grateful that the town has such a great asset, along with Kynren and the castle.

"It was lovely to see the backs of the little cottages I didn't expect to see. They were beautiful.

"There's been a lot of discussion in the town about it being ugly but I think it's wonderful."

The tower was officially opened by Clive Auld, from the Bishop Auckland Town Team. He said: "It's an honour and a privilege to be here today alongside this iconic building behind me. You wouldn't believe we're in downtown Bishop Auckland but we are and we are moving forward.

 

"When there is a good team behind you, you can get things done. We don't have any power but we know people who do and we all work together."

Jonathan Ruffer, founder of the Auckland Project, said: "When I came to Auckland Castle one the things I saw was people look back at the great days of Bishop Auckland and what they wanted was for Bishop Auckland was to go back to the great days of the past.

"The past was indeed great but this modern architecture is to say Bishop Auckland has a past, but the action is in the future."

The tower, which is meant to look like a siege engine – a portable tower that in time of war was pushed against the stone walls of a castle by enemies who were wanting to invade – has a 15m high viewing platform, and is the same height as the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

It also includes a gallery, with information about the history of the town, Auckland Castle and the Prince Bishops of Durham.

Following the ribbon cutting, entertainment was provided by seven-piece band Back Chat Brass, while there were also art activities and talks on the history of the Prince Bishops of Durham.

Revd Eileen Harrop, the priest at St Anne's Church, was among the first to take a tour of the tower.

She said: "It's incredible. We get a 360 view but not just from one place because of all the different platforms.

"It takes your breath away.

 

"It's just wonderful to be part of of the whole development which is not just the Auckland Project. It's about everyone coming together and recognising this belongs to us."

Susan Graydon, from Coundon, who is a volunteer at the nearby Mining Art Gallery, said: "I think it's amazing. It's got the history with things like the siege engine and it's bringing it up to modern times.

"It's something different to bring different people to town.

"There are beautiful views up there - you can see for miles and miles."

 

David Maddan, the Auckland Project’s chief executive, said: "It really is a bold and striking statement. We are very pleased with it.

"What is really pleasing is that we have done this with the local community and we have been helped by the local community.

"It's a step on the way to a better future."

Auckland Castle is due to reopen next year following a two-year restoration while a Spanish Gallery and Faith Museum are also set to open in the next few years, along with a hotel and new restaurant in the castle's walled garden.