Recently, we announced a new partnership with Bishop's Key and The Auckland Project! All of our parents and staff can now enjoy: 

10% off Bishop's Key Passes - Use code: DCSF10

20% off event tickets – Use Code: DCSF20 

Tickets for passes and events can be purchased from the link here: https://aucklandproject.org 

Bishop's Key Passes give you access to over five fantastic attractions in Bishop Auckland, including Auckland Castle, The Faith Museum, and The Mining Art Gallery. A yearly pass allows unlimited entry to all of these sites throughout the year, making it the perfect way to enjoy family days out this summer! 

BUT did you know that Durham School has had a connection to Auckland Castle since the late 1800s? Hensley Henson, a former Bishop of Durham, resided at Auckland Castle, which has been the home to Bishops of Durham since 1183. Henson had strong ties to Durham School, and his close relationship with several Headmasters meant he regularly attended our Speech Day and was present when the foundation stone of Langley House (now Lodge and Caffinites Houses)was placed in 1913.

 You can read more about Hensley Henson's story here:

While clearing out the attic of the Chorister School, staff found four paintings that had been stored up there, decades ago. One of the paintings was a black and white print of Hensley Henson, who was Bishop of Durham from 1920 to 1939. This is itself a print of a 1929 colour painting by Harold Speed that currently hangs in Auckland Castle. Of all of the Bishops of Durham, Henson was possibly one of the ones who had the greatest connection to Durham School.

Henson went to Oxford with Walter Hobhouse, who would later became Headmaster of Durham School from 1894 to 1899. On the 27th January 1898, his journal recorded staying at Durham School with Hobhouse. Henson also had good relationships with Headmaster Canon Budworth, of whom he calls in his 1942 autobiography Retrospect of an Unimportant Life "was the most self-effacing man imaginable, and gained the remarkable influence, which he undoubtedly possessed, by sheer force of personal character... I held him in high regard, and counted him among my best-loved friends."

As Dean of Durham, Henson was inextricably linked to Durham School, being close friends with the Headmaster Canon Budworth and Second Master R.H.J. Poole. He was present for the laying of the Langley House foundation stone in 1913, and during his speech he spoke of his dreams for what Durham School could be: "Durham School was the point at which their old foundation became progressive, and entered as an active and valuable force into the public life of their time… [it] is marked out conspicuously for a great future" This demonstrated Henson's ambition with the site; in a December 1917 letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, he said that "Durham ought to be the Uppingham of the North." 

When he became Bishop of Durham in 1920 his closeness with the school diminished slightly as his attention was drawn to bigger things. He still attended various Speech Days and key events, however. An invitation distributed to the Tristram Society on the 8th June 1922 saw them visit Bishop Henson's new home at Auckland Castle: "Dr. and Mrs. Henson gave us tea in their delightful gardens. Later we were shown over the Palace. This proved exceedingly interesting to all of us; especially worthy of mention are the State Room and the Chapel, where we saw the splendid gold Communion Plate. It is a great pity that we were able only to devote threequarters of an hour to a building which deserved far more attention. Our sincere gratitude is due to the Bishop and Mrs. Henson for their kindness." 

Print Found in Chorister Attic

An Example of Henson speaking out about the Nazi Regime, Prior to WW2

A Book with an Introduction from Bishop Henson regarding his Views on the Nazi Regime.