Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle, a market-town in the county of Durham, on the left bank of the Tees, 15 miles W. of Darlington by rail. On a rocky height over the river are the ruins of a castle built in 1112–32 by Barnard Baliol (q.v.), ancestor of John Baliol, king of Scotland, who was born in the castle, and founded an almshouse in the town. Barnard Castle is the scene of part of Scott's Rokeby. Near it is an art museum, French Renaissance in style, presented to the town in 1874 by the Countess Montalbo, in which are many of the art treasures formerly in Streatlam Castle. Pop. (1851) 4357; (1891) 4341.