Barnard Castle

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Coordinates: 54°33′N 1°55′W / 54.55°N 1.92°W / 54.55; -1.92

Barnard Castle


Part of Barnard Castle Market Place showing the "Market Cross" or "Butter Market"

Barnard Castle is located in County Durham
Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle shown within County Durham
Population c.5000
OS grid reference NZ047166
Unitary authority County Durham
Ceremonial county County Durham
Region North East
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town BARNARD CASTLE
Postcode district DL12
Dialling code 01833
Police Durham
Fire County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance North East
European Parliament North East England
UK Parliament Bishop Auckland
List of places: UKEnglandCounty Durham

Barnard Castle is a town in Teesdale, County Durham, England named after the castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, 34 miles (55 km) south southwest of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, 30 miles (48 km) west of Middlesbrough and 21 miles (34 km) southeast of the county town of Durham. Other than the castle, the Bowes Museum is also located in the town. Nearby towns include Bishop Auckland north-east, Darlington to the east and Richmond to the south-east.

Contents

[edit] Administration

Barnard Castle is for all purposes (historic, ceremonial and administrative) located in County Durham.

Barnard Castle was the administrative centre of the now defunct Teesdale district of County Durham. The town is now administered by Durham County Council Unitary Authority. It is part of the Bishop Auckland parliamentary constituency, which as of 2005 is represented in parliament by Helen Goodman (Labour). It is in the North East England region, which serves as a constituency for the European Parliament.

The local police force is Durham Constabulary. The town is the base for the Barnard Castle division, which covers 300 square miles. This division is within the force's south area command.

[edit] History

The castle was founded by the Normans shortly after the conquest, but enjoyed its heyday under Bernard de Bailleul during the latter half of the 12th century. The castle passed into the hands of the Balliol family (of which the Scottish king, John Balliol, was the most important member), and then into the possession of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. King Richard III inherited it through his wife, Anne Neville, but it fell into ruins in the century after his death. The remains are now in the care of English Heritage.

Walter Scott frequently visited his friend John Sawrey Morritt at Rokeby Hall and was fond of exploring Teesdale. He begins his epic poem Rokeby (1813) with a man standing on guard on the round tower of the Barnard Castle fortress.

Charles Dickens and his illustrator Hablot Browne (Phiz) stayed at the King's Head in Barnard Castle while researching his novel Nicholas Nickleby in the winter of 1837-38. He is said to have entered William Humphrey's clock-maker's shop, then opposite the hotel, and enquired who had made a certain remarkable clock. William replied that his boy Humphrey had done it. This seems to have prompted Dickens to choose the title "Master Humphrey's Clock" for his new weekly, in whichThe Old Curiosity Shop and Barnaby Rudge appeared.

The Bowes Museum housed in a chateau-like building, was founded by John Bowes and his wife and is of national status. It contains an El Greco, paintings by Goya, Canaletto, Boucher, Fragonard and a collection of decorative art. A great attraction is the 18th century silver swan automation, which periodically preens itself, looks round and appears to catch and swallow a fish.

John Bowes lived at nearby Streatlam Castle (now demolished). His Streatlam stud never had more than ten breeding mares at one time, but produced no fewer than four Derby winners in twenty years. The last of these, "West Australian", was the first racehorse to win the Triple Crown (1853).


[edit] Transport

Barnard Castle has road connections to Bishop Auckland, Spennymoor and central County Durham via the A688 and Darlington and Teesside by the A67. Barnard Castle is also located 4 miles from the A66 with access to both the M6 to the west and the A1(M) to the east. The B6278 also connects Barnard Castle with Middleton-in-Teesdale.

From 1861 to 1964 the town was served by Barnard Castle railway station.

[edit] Tourism

Barnard Castle is located in a picturesque area of Teesdale, therefore regularly attracts visitors from local areas but also visitors further afield. Several holiday parks are located nearby including a Camping and Caravanning Club site.

Music Festival. The Barney Big Bash is a yearly three day music festival. It has grown from the annual Rhythm & Blues Festival which has been operating for 8 years, into an eclectic mix of live bands suitable for all ages. A real family event with childre FREE all weekend.

This year it has 4 days of great music;

Friday 28th August - Monday 31st August

Friday

Blind Summat!, Tri, Old Age Travellers, Tip The Wink, Exiles From Eden, High Force

Saturday

The Hamsters, The Larry Miller Band, Danny Bryant's Redeye Band, Storm Warning, Casual Sax, Sidewinder, Sam Sullivan

Sunday

The Beat, The Mods, The New Age Jam, Kassius, Master Colony, The Cheap Suits, The Roundels

Monday

T-Rextasy, ELO Experiece, Ultimate Madness, Keep It Cash, Pressure Drop, The Me Me's, The Funktion

[edit] Notable Residents

[edit] Former Residents

[edit] Schools

[edit] Barnard Castle School

Barnard Castle School, an independent co-educational boarding school, is located on the eastern edge of the town.

Several notable "Old Barnardians" come from the school; ex-England Rugby players Rob Andrew, now Director of Elite Rugby for the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the Underwood brothers, Tony and Rory along with present England player Mathew Tait and his younger brother Alex, member of the Newcastle Falcons and England U20s team.

Students Rory Clegg, and Alex Gray are members of the England Under 18 squad. [2]

The School also boast other notable alumni

[edit] Teesdale School

Teesdale School Science College and Sixth Form Centre is an 11-18 Comprehensive school welcoming everyone from the local community no matter what their background or ability. It is located on the outskirts of the town, just off the A688.

[edit] Location

Destinations from BARNARD CASTLE
Upper Teesdale, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Alston Hamsterley Forest, Weardale,
 
Bishop Auckland, Durham CIty, Tyneside, Wearside
Brough, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Pennines,Cumbria
N
W E
S
Gainford, Darlington, Teesside
Yorkshire Dales National Park River Tees, Startforth, The A66, Reeth, Yorkshire Dales
 
Richmond, Scotch Corner, Northallerton, North York Moors National Park

[edit] References

  1. ^ . Daily Mail. 2008-03-16. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-537609/Ian-selling-life--home-car-job--eBay-blaming-wife-But-just-ploy-make-millionaire.html. Retrieved on 2008-07-12. 
  2. ^ England Rugby (15 August 2007). England Under 18s record win in Australia. Press release. http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=17433. 


[edit] External links

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