Barnard Castle
Castle market town museum
For centuries, the Castle has been the focus of this town built on the fast flowing River Tees by the Norman baron Benard de Bailleul.
The Castle became a stronghold of the North later the Castle was bought by the Vane family. They used the stones to repair the Castle at nearby Raby, over the years the townsfolk followed suit and the Castle was slowly dismantled.
Many of the houses in the main streets are built from the stone taken from the Castle; there is a wide cobbled market place, complete with the market cross an octagonal building just before the steep hill. Many of these buildings are fine and elegant and today house many shops.
The Market cross itself has an unusual Tuscan arcade and has been used over the years for various purposes, such as a market place and goal to name just a few.
The Castle although still quite impressive is no match for what is undoubtedly the grandest building in Barnard Castle, the Bowes Museum.
The building is extraordinary resembling a French chateau it was built by John Bowes the son of the Earl of Strathmore he built it for his wife Josephine Benoite.
This beautiful building resembling something you would find in the Loire Valley houses a magnificent museum .The collection of paintings in this Museum is outstanding, with works by the likes of El Greco, Tiepolo, Goya, Bucher and Canaletto, as well as other amazing items.
Set in Teesdale, this charming little town has plenty of things for the visitor to do and see, the surrounding countryside is beautiful and possesses typical northern rural views.
Further afield, you can explore Bowlees and the Durham wildlife trust, high force reputedly England’s highest waterfall or visit the Dales Centre at Stanhope, nearby Eggleston Hall has beautiful informal gardens with rare herbaceous plants and shrubs.
Activities in Barnard Castle
Castle and Gardens
Raby Castle - One of Englands Finest Medieval castle
Museums
Bowes Museum - Museum of Fine Art
Waterfall
High Force - Discover the Force of Nature
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