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Barnard-Castle in Durham County England History and GeographyBARNARD-CASTLE, a market town and chapelry in the parish of GAINFORD, south-western division of DARLINGTON ward, county palatine of DURHAM, 25 miles (S.W. by W.) from Durham, and 244 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 3581 inhabitants. The name of this place is derived from its original founder, Bernard, ancestor of John Balliol, king of Scotland, who was a native of this place and erected a formidable castle at the western extremity of the town, in which the Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III., resided for some time. The duke is said to have greatly enlarged the castle, and to have founded a college, but of the latter there are no vestiges. During the rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, in the reign of Elizabeth, the castle, which then belonged to the latter nobleman, was seized and garrisoned by Sir George Bowes, of Streatham, who defended it against the rebel forces till he was relieved by the approach of the royal army: the remains, which occupy more than seven acres of land, form an interesting ruin, and indicate the strength and extent of the original building. The town is situated on an eminence, rising abruptly from the southern bank of the river Tees, over which there is an ancient bridge of two pointed arches: it consists principally of one spacious street nearly a mile in length, intersected by several smaller streets. The houses are built of white freestone, and have a very handsome appearance: the streets are well paved, and the inhabitants are amply supplied with water from springs in the neighbourhood. The environs are remarkably pleasant, and the vale of Tees abounds with romantic scenery. There is a book society, in conjunction with Staincross. The principal articles manufactured are carpets, woollcn plaids, and hats; and on the banks of the river there are several mills for spinning thread. The market is on Wednesday: fairs are held on the Wednesday in Easter and Whitsunweeks for cattle and agricultural produce; the fair on St. Mary Magdalene's day has nearly fallen into disuse. The county magistrates hold a petty session on the first Wednesday in every month: a baronial court for the recovery of debts under 40s. is held quarterly, and constables and other oflicers are annually appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Durham, endowed with £600 private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and £1100 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Gainford. The chapel, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient and spacious cruciform structure, with a square embattled tower rising from the centre; it is partly in the Norman, and partly in the early and decorated styles of English architecture, with later insertions. There are places of worship for Independents, and Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. The National school is supported by subscription: an hospital, for the residence and maintenance of three aged widows, was founded by John Balliol, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. About two miles north-west of the town there is a chalybeate spring; and a Roman coin, of the emperor Trajan, was dug up in the church yard in 1824. Sir John Hullock, one of the late barons of the exchequer; and William Hutchinson, Esq. author of the History and Antiquities of the County of Durham; were natives of this place. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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