Pictures of Barnard Castle

a Castle in the town of Barnard Castle, in the county of County Durham

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About Barnard Castle

This historic town is a picturesque centre for discovering the delights of Teesdale.

The town occupies a clifftop site above the River Tees, it grew up outside of the castle founded by Guy de Bailleul, and rebuilt by his nephew, Bernard Balliol, after 1150. The castle eventually passed to Royal Control in the 15th century. Of the romantic ruins on this amazing site, the most striking surviving feature is the cylindrical, early 13th century, round tower. The castle, a dramatic focal point of the town, is in the care of English Heritage and is open to the public.

Barnard Castle holds the building famous as the home of one of the country's finest art collections, the Josephine and John Bowes Museum. This extraordinary property is built in the style of a French chateau, to a design by Jules Pellechet. The museum opened in 1892 after the couple, he the son of the Earl of Strathmore and she, Josephine, a French actress, had died. Both were dedicated collectors of paintings, furniture and ceramics and visitors can see countless beautiful things, in the setting that was the dream of this celebrated husband and wife. Found west of the town, this important museum is a visit not to be missed, it has paintings by El Greco, Goya, Courbet, Boucher and other noted artists, superb tapestries, French 18th century furniture, costume, religious art and objects of art arranged in period rooms. One of the most delightful rooms is a children's room, here you can see wonderful dolls and doll's houses.

In the town centre there is an impressive Butter Market or Market Cross from 1747. This has served a variety of purposes, including usage as the town's lock-up! Dairy produce has been sold from here and it has also served as Town Hall and Court House.

This delightful town has been visited by many noted persons including Charles Dickens who stayed at the King's Head Hotel in 1838 whilst he was writing Nicholas Nickelby.

In the broad thoroughfares and old streets of Barnard Castle, visitors may note a rich variety of architecture and cobblestones. At the corner of the Market Place is St. Mary's Church dating from Norman times.

One and a half miles south-east of the town, on the eastern bank of the Tees, visitors can see the ruins of Egglestone Abbey, founded as a Premonstratensian Abbey in the late 12th century. The abbey flourished until the Dissolution of 1540, after this Henry VIII granted the lands to Robert Strelley who turned some of the buildings into an impressive private house. The house was abandoned in the 19th century and today the remaining buildings are protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument in the care of English Heritage. Hauntingly atmospheric, evocative of the time when religion, King and country where all, these magnificent ruins are well worth seeing.

Barnard Castle is not just a place for lovers of history, its location in the Upper Teesdale Valley makes the town a perfect base for the enjoyment of country pursuits such as walking, cycling and birdwatching. It is ideal for lovers of peace and tranquillity, and has immense appeal for botanists and archaeologists.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Barnard Castle.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Barnard Castle

Bowes Museum	(0.3 miles, 0.5 km)	Pictures
Egglestone Abbey	(1.1 miles, 1.7 km)	Pictures
Raby Castle	(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Hamsterley Forest	(7.4 miles, 12.0 km, direction N)	Pictures
Arkengarthdale	(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction S)	Pictures
Swaledale	(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction S)	Pictures
Richmond Castle	(12.3 miles, 19.9 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Auckland Castle	(13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Easby Abbey	(13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction SE)	Pictures
High Force	(13.1 miles, 21.1 km, direction NW)	Pictures

All attractions in County Durham
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle, a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham (0.3 miles, 0.5 km)
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Reeth, in the county of North Yorkshire (10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction S)
An area of startling clarity, populated with beautiful old stone buildings, Reeth is a famous centre from which to tour the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
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Escomb, in the county of County Durham (11.7 miles, 18.9 km, direction NE)
Lying in a prominent position ringed by the River Wear, Escomb is best known for its magnificent Saxon Church reputed to be built from stones brought from the near-by ruined Roman Fort at Binchester.
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Richmond, a Historic Market Town in the county of North Yorkshire (12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction SE)
Richmond is a lovely old market town on the River Swale in North Yorkshire.
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Craigside, in the county of County Durham (12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction N)
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Bishop Auckland, a Historic Market Town in the county of County Durham (12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction NE)
This was the busy social and commercial centre of the south-west Durham coalfield, but the town is actually much older than the...
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Gunnerside, in the county of North Yorkshire (13.0 miles, 20.8 km, direction SW)
This is an attractive village lying at the heart of a landscape made famous in the TV series "All Creatures Great and Small".
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Wolsingham, in the county of County Durham (13.2 miles, 21.2 km, direction N)
This is a lovely village lying on the edge of the North Pennines in an area of great scenic beauty. It is a wild and beautiful landscape dotted only by scattered farms with meadows full of grazing sheep and cattle.
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Keld, in the county of North Yorkshire (13.9 miles, 22.3 km, direction SW)
Keld is a wonderfully scenic area at the head of Swalesdale. It is a lonely landscape with a small hamlet of stone cottages and outlying farms.
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Coundon, in the county of County Durham (14.0 miles, 22.5 km, direction NE)
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All towns in County Durham
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

A1(M) Junction 56	(11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction SE)
A1(M) Junction 57	(12.2 miles, 19.6 km, direction E)
Bishop Auckland Station	(12.2 miles, 19.7 km, direction NE)
Shildon Station	(12.7 miles, 20.4 km, direction NE)
Teesside International Airport	(19.7 miles, 31.7 km, direction E)
Newcastle International Airport	(35.2 miles, 56.6 km, direction N)
Barnard Castle to London	(222.7 miles, 358.3 km, direction S)

Accommodation & Hotels near Barnard Castle

Hotel Name
The Morritt Arms Hotel	(2.8 miles, 4.4 km, direction SE)
Headlam Hall Hotel	(8.0 miles, 12.9 km, direction E)
Manor House Hotel	(10.1 miles, 16.3 km, direction NE)
The Otter Hotel	(10.3 miles, 16.5 km, direction NE)
Buck Hotel	(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction S)
Walworth Castle Hotel	(11.2 miles, 18.0 km, direction E)
The Kings Head Hotel	(12.1 miles, 19.4 km, direction SE)
Scotch Corner Hotel & Leisure Club	(12.1 miles, 19.5 km, direction SE)
Paramount Redworth Hall Hotel	(12.3 miles, 19.8 km, direction E)
Blackwell Grange Hotel	(14.2 miles, 22.8 km, direction E)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts