Barnard Castle

This article is about the town in County Durham, England. For the castle of the same name situated in the town, see Barnard Castle (castle).

Barnard Castle
Part of Barnard Castle Market Place showing the "Market Cross"or "Butter Market".
Population
OS grid reference	NZ047166
District	Teesdale
Shire county	County Durham
Region	North East
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
UK Parliament	Bishop Auckland

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.

Other than the castle, Bowes Museum is among the town's attractions.

Administration

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

Barnard Castle is the administrative centre of the Teesdale district of County Durham. As of 2005, it is represented on the County Council by Richard Bell and Jo Fergus (both Conservative). 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 forces south area.

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).

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.

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 Caravannig Club site.

Notable residents

• Cyril Northcote Parkinson - writer and inventor of Parkinson's Law
• Anne Fine - children's writer. Twice Whitbread Prize winner.
• Ian Usher - Internet celebrity. Sold his 'life' on eBay.

Schools

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 player Mathew Tait.

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

Also:

   * Bentley Beetham, Ornithologist, Photographer, Mountaineer (member of George Mallory's 1924 Everest team)
   * David J. Bodycombe, puzzle author
   * Andrew Cantrill, organist
   * Giles Deacon, fashion designer
   * Robert Dinwiddie, professional golfer. 
   * Nigel Farndale, journalist
   * Glenn Hugill, TV producer
   * Professor Edward Mellanby (discoverer of vitamin D)
   * Kenneth Mellanby
   * Graham Ratcliffe, Mountaineer (twice conqueror of Everest)
   * Alexander Taylor, furniture designer 
   * Andrew Thornton, jump jockey
   * Richard Tomlinson, former MI6 officer
   * Kevin Whately, Inspector Morse actor
   * Guy Wilks, rally driver

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.

Location

• Elevation: 180 m (600 feet)
• Road access: A67 from Darlington; roads off A66 from Scotch Corner and Brough; A688 from Bishop Auckland; B6277 and B6278 from Teesdale.
• Rail access: Bishop Auckland, 25 km (15 miles); Darlington, 30 km (20 miles)
• Nearest large town: Darlington, 30 km (20 miles)

External links

• Views of Barnard Castle