Barnard Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barnard Castle |
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.jpg) The "Butter Market" (the town's Market Cross) |
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 Barnard Castle
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| Population | 5,495 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | NZ047166 |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| 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 |
| EU Parliament | North East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Barnard Castle (pronounced BAH-nəd KASS-əl) is a lively market town in County Durham, England. It sits on the north side of the River Tees. The town gets its name from the old medieval castle ruins it was built around.
Barnard Castle is about 21 km (13 miles) southwest of Durham. Nearby towns include Bishop Auckland to the northeast and Richmond to the southeast. The biggest employer in the town is GlaxoSmithKline, a company that makes medicines.
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History of Barnard Castle
Before 1066, the area around Barnard Castle was part of a large Anglo-Norse estate. After the Normans took over England, this land was given to a Norman lord named Guy de Balliol.
The Castle's Story
The castle was first built as earthworks. Later, in the 12th century, Guy de Balliol's descendant, Bernard de Balliol I, rebuilt it with stone. This is how the town got its name! The castle stayed with the Balliol family for many years. A famous member was John Balliol, who became a Scottish king.
Later, the castle was owned by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Then, King Richard III inherited it through his wife. After his death, the castle slowly fell into ruins. Today, the castle ruins are looked after by English Heritage and are open for everyone to visit.
The Bowes Museum
John Bowes and his wife, Joséphine Benoîte Coffin-Chevallier, created the amazing Bowes Museum. This museum is very important nationally. It's housed in a beautiful building that looks like a French chateau.
Inside, you can find paintings by famous artists like Goya and El Greco. A very special attraction is the 18th-century silver swan automaton. This incredible mechanical swan moves its head, preens itself, and even looks like it's catching and swallowing a fish!
In the past, Barnard Castle was known for weaving wool by hand. Later, in the early 1800s, people spun thread and made shoe laces.
Famous Visitors to Barnard Castle
Many famous people have visited Barnard Castle over the years.
Writers and Artists
- Walter Scott, a famous writer, often visited his friend nearby. He even started his long poem Rokeby with a scene at Barnard Castle.
- Charles Dickens, another well-known author, stayed in Barnard Castle while writing his novel Nicholas Nickleby. He visited a clock shop, which gave him an idea for the title of one of his later works.
- Other famous visitors include William Wordsworth, Daniel Defoe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hilaire Belloc, Bill Bryson, and the artist J. M. W. Turner.
How Barnard Castle is Governed
Barnard Castle is part of County Durham. The town has its own Town Council that helps run local services. The Town Council chooses a ceremonial Town Mayor each year.
The town is also part of the Bishop Auckland area for the UK parliament. Currently, Sam Rushworth represents this area. The local police force is Durham Constabulary.
Geography of Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle is located about 180 meters (600 feet) above sea level.
- Nearest large towns: Darlington, 16 miles (26 km); Bishop Auckland, 14.8 miles (24 km).
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Upper Teesdale, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Alston | Hamsterley Forest, Weardale | Bishop Auckland, Durham CIty, Tyneside, Wearside | |
| Brough, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Pennines, Cumbria |  |
Gainford, Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough | ||
 Barnard Castle  |
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| Yorkshire Dales National Park | River Tees, Startforth, The A66, Reeth, Yorkshire Dales | Richmond, Scotch Corner, Northallerton, North York Moors National Park |
Economy of Barnard Castle
The most important employer in Barnard Castle is GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). They have a large factory on the edge of town that employs about 1,000 people. GSK has invested a lot of money into this factory over the years. Barnard Castle School is the second largest employer, with 183 staff members.
Transport in Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle has good road connections. The A688 connects it to Bishop Auckland and central County Durham. The A67 links it to Darlington and Middlesbrough. The town is also close to the A66, which connects to the M6 (west) and the A1(M) (east). The old road bridge over the River Tees was built in 1569 and is a very old, important building.
The Barnard Castle railway station used to have passenger trains but closed in 1964. Today, if you want to travel by train, you can go to Bishop Auckland or Darlington stations. There are also bus routes that connect Barnard Castle to Darlington and Richmond.
Education in Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle has several schools for different age groups.
- Barnard Castle School is an independent boarding school for both boys and girls, located on the eastern side of town.
- Teesdale School is a comprehensive school for students aged 11 to 18.
- There are three primary schools: Green Lane School (ages 4–11), St Mary's (a Roman Catholic school), and Montalbo Primary School and Nursery (ages 3–11).
Culture in Barnard Castle
The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a major cultural spot. It's a huge building designed like a French chateau, set in large grounds. It holds many artworks, including paintings by famous artists like El Greco and Goya. It also has a big collection of decorative art, ceramics, and costumes. The museum is especially famous for its Silver Swan automaton, which used to perform daily.
Arts and Events
- The Witham Arts Centre, located on the Horse Market, hosts many events. These include plays, movies, music, and shows for children. It's also where you can find visitor information for the town.
- The Barnard Castle Meet is a big annual festival held in May. It started as a cyclists' gathering in 1885 and has grown into a large carnival with a grand procession through the town. It's one of the biggest events in the area.
- The TCR Hub is a community center on the edge of town. It offers many indoor and outdoor activities for everyone.
- The Barnard Castle Band, formed in 1860, is a local brass band. It's well-known because of a march called Barnard Castle by Goff Richards.
Notable People from Barnard Castle
- Anne Fine – a children's writer who has won awards.
- Arthur Henderson – a Nobel Peace Prize winner (1934) and the first Labour cabinet minister.
- David Harper – a TV antiques expert.
- Glenn Hugill – a television presenter and producer.
- David Jennings – a composer.
- Ian Usher – a traveler, adventurer, and writer.
Former Residents
- Joshua Harold Burn – a professor of pharmacology.
- Bob Chatt – a footballer.
- Siobhan Fahey – a singer from Bananarama and Shakespears Sister.
- Hannah Hauxwell – a farmer who was featured in TV documentaries.
- William Hutchinson – an 18th-century historian.
- Roderick Murchison – a president of the Royal Geological and Royal Geographical Societies.
- Cyril Northcote Parkinson – a writer and inventor.
- Henry Witham – a geologist and supporter of good causes.
See also
In Spanish: Barnard Castle para niños
