Auckland Palace’s Nativity features hundreds of intricate figurines depicting the Holy Family amid the hubbub of C18th Naples. Magi mix with musicians, servants and hunters. It's unique outside Italy and the US, and seeing it is a seasonal tradition in the North East. However hundreds of Christmases have taken their toll, leaving the townsfolk with ingrained dirt, flaking paint and brittle clothes. Careful conservation is needed to ensure it survives, and can be enjoyed for years to come.

To ensure the Nativity retains its magic, we are planning a phased programme of conservation starting in 2027. Accredited conservators will treat the figures, costumes, props and scenery over several years, beginning with the most fragile elements such as silk clothes and painted faces. Each Christmas the Nativity will return to display in Bishop Auckland, as conservation work slowly reveals its true splendour.