Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle is a Grade I listed archaeological site in County Durham, cared for by English Heritage. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle stands above the River Tees in the County Durham town that shares its name, its walls now reduced to roofless towers and broken curtain wall.

It began life as a Norman stronghold and grew into one of the largest castles in the north of England.

English Heritage has managed the site since it came into state care, and visitors can walk through the remains of the Great Hall and climb the surviving Round Tower.

A carved stone boar, Richard III's personal badge, is set into the stonework and links the ruin directly to him.

History of Barnard Castle

The castle was begun around 1095 by Guy de Balliol and extended by his nephew Bernard de Balliol in the early 12th century. It later came to Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, and then to Richard III, who held it as Duke of Gloucester and left his personal badge, a boar, carved into stone there. By the 17th century the castle had fallen into disrepair, and much of its stone was taken by Sir Henry Vane to build nearby Raby Castle.

Architecture of Barnard Castle

The castle developed from an early motte-and-bailey layout into a substantial stone fortress, with the surviving Round Tower and the remains of the Great Hall giving a sense of its original scale.

Worth knowing

Richard III's carved boar badge, set into the stonework above a window in the Great Chamber, is one of the few surviving pieces of decoration tied directly to him before he became king.

Facilities

Parking Café Toilets Shop EV charging Restaurant Cycle parking Baby changing

Plan your visit to Barnard Castle

Prices & opening times Official site Google Maps Waze

Nearest station: Bishop Auckland West Station (12.6 miles)

Places to visit near Barnard Castle

Bowes Museum

historic building 0.5 miles

View Bowes Museum on heritage map

Egglestone Hall

historic house 1.0 miles

View Egglestone Hall on heritage map

Egglestone Abbey

historic building 1.2 miles

Visit Egglestone Abbey View Egglestone Abbey on heritage map

Rokeby Park

historic house 2.5 miles

Visit Rokeby Park View Rokeby Park on heritage map

Bowes Castle

castle 3.9 miles

View Bowes Castle on heritage map

Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Barnard Castle there are 5 historic properties, including 2 historic buildings and 2 historic houses, across English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.

3 English Heritage

2 Historic Houses

2 Historic building

2 Historic house

1 Castle

See these 5 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Barnard Castle there are 8 historic properties, including 3 historic buildings, 2 castles and 2 historic houses, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and Churches Conservation Trust sites.

4 English Heritage

3 Historic Houses

1 Churches Conservation Trust

3 Historic building

2 Castle

2 Historic house

1 Church

See these 8 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Barnard Castle there are 24 historic properties, including 7 historic buildings, 7 castles and 5 historic houses, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and Churches Conservation Trust sites.

12 English Heritage

7 Historic Houses

4 Churches Conservation Trust

1 National Trust

7 Historic building

7 Castle

5 Historic house

4 Church

1 Museum