Barnard Castle: A town in N.E. England which has suddenly become very topical.
This evening, I am focusing on Barnard Castle in Teesdale, N.E. England., about 26 miles S.W. of the ancient city of Durham. The town grew up around a 12th century Norman castle and assumed the name, hence Barnard Castle can apply to either the ruined castle or the adjacent town (or both). Here is a video clip of town and castle. p The Castle This massive edifice sits on a natural defensive position, high on a rock above the River Tees. As a power base, the castle reached its zenith in the 12th century under Bernard de Bailliol after whose first name the castle is named. The castle subsequently passed to the Beauchamp family and then to King Richard III via his wife. After Richard’s death at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 the castle fell into disuse and ultimate ruin. At the castle can be found a sensory garden and Richard III’s boar emblem carved into the inner ward. The Town Pleasant and prosperous with a population of about 5200. A market town with us...