Thursday, December 08, 2011

"Auckland Castle Project is at an end”


The £15m deal to save the Zurbaran paintings is on the verge of collapse, The Northern Echo can reveal, and the project to turn Auckland Castle into a cultural tourist attraction may be in tatters.

Philanthropist Jonathan Ruffer is ready to withdraw his bid to save the 17th Century masterpieces because of the “obduracy” of the Church Commissioners, who own the paintings.

He says the Commissioners keep introducing conditions to the sale of the paintings and the takeover of the 12th Century castle.

He said last night: “Part of me is convinced that the project is going to happen, but if you look at the betting, it is stone dead.”

Click here to read this article from the Northern Echo