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Coordinates: 54°33′N 1°55′W / 54.55°N 1.92°W
| Barnard Castle | |
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.png)  Barnard Castle
 Barnard Castle shown within County Durham |
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| Population | c.5000 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| 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: UK • England • County 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) southwest 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.
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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).
Governance
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.
Geography
- Elevation: 180 m (600 ft)
- Nearest large town: Darlington, 20 miles (30 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, Teesside | ||
 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
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.
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. Today rail access is via Bishop Auckland, 15 miles (25 km) or Darlington, 20 miles (30 km).
Education
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. [1]
The School also boast other notable alumni
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.
Culture
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.
Notable people
- Anne Fine - children's writer. Twice Whitbread Prize winner.
- Ian Usher - Internet celebrity. Sold his 'life' on eBay. [2]
Former Residents
- Bob Chatt - footballer for Aston Villa - scorer of the fastest goal in an FA Cup Final, 1895, until record broken in 2009.
- Cyril Northcote Parkinson - writer and inventor of Parkinson's Law
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ . 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 2008-07-12.
External links
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Barnard Castle. |
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