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Local Information for Barnard Castle

Lying on the Durham side of the banks of the River Tees, Barnard Castle is a historic thriving market town, which developed in the protective shadow of Bernard Balliol's castle. Built on a fine defensive site in 1125, the castle is in the care of English Heritage and is open to the public. Today Bernard's Castle is a ruin, but a very pretty ruin situated on a high bank overlooking the Tees. The castle has witnessed plenty of history and has been a home to many famous historic characters, including Richard III, Henry VII, Warwick the Kingmaker, and the Prince Bishops of Durham

Featured in the centre of the town is an octagonal Market cross, which was built by a Barnard Castle resident, called Thomas Breaks in 1747. At various times in history this building has served the purpose of court, gaol, Town Hall and Buttermarket. At the northern end of the market place, a street called Galgate runs north-east following the ancient course of a Roman road that ran from Stainmore to joi...More