In Barnard Castle, in Teesdale, Northern England you can find the Bowes Museum. That fantastic treasure house was built in the French style by John and Josephine Bowes of nearby Streatlam Castle. John Bowes lived for a time in France where he met his wife and there they eventually started collecting artworks. Being childless the couple may have decided to perpetuate there names in a rather different way. Selling property in France they raised enough money to start building the museum and buy artefacts.
Walk Around Bowes Museum and View a Priceless Legacy
John and Josephine both died before the completion of their enormous undertaking at Barnard Castle. John saw the completion of the building but it was not until some years after his death that Bowes Museum finally opened its doors to the public. The couple had amassed an incredible collection of artwork, artefacts and unusual exhibits. In the first year alone almost 63,000 visitors came through the doors of this amazing chateau styled wonder house in rural Teesdale.
The Museum's Priceless Collection Now Remains in the Hands of a Trust
With the death of John Bowes trustees ran the museum till shortly after World War 11. The Friends of Bowes Museum was set up to help hold off severe financial problems. Durham County Council then administered the museum for several decades until the millenium of 2,000 saw the inception of a new charitable trust. That trust now looks after the magnicent building and it collection of paintings, ceramics, glass, furniture, fashions, fabrics, sculptures and metalworks and much more.
View the Priceless Bowes Museum Silver Swan
Of all the outstanding artefacts on display at Bowes Museum the premier exhibit at Barnard Castle must be the world famous Silver Swan. The novelist Mark Twain saw this remarkable automaton at the Paris International Exhibition in 1867. He was so taken by the lifelike beauty and elegance of this machine that he mentions it in his book The Innocents Abroad: "I watched the Silver Swan, which had a living grace about his movement and a living intelligence in his eyes..."
The Automaton Has Been Fully Refurbished and Fishes Every Day
The Silver Swan is full sized and based on a mute swan. It dates from 1773 and the following year it became an eycatching attraction in a mechanical museum. It is controlled by three different clockwork mechanisms created by the inventor J, J, Merlin. John Bowes paid £200 for it in the early 1870s and now it is absolutely priceless. When set in motion it preens itself then seems to catch a fish. After a costly restoration it now only fishes once a day.
The Park and Gardens Offer Excellent Recreatioin In Barnard Castle
John and Josephine also wished to have a public park and gardens at Barnard Castle There was even a Bill put through Parliament by John's stepfather to enable this to take place. With more than twenty acres of surrounding land there was plenty of scope. Exotic trees were planted and a series of formal and informal areas set up. The gardens continue to support pubic events throughty the year. These include plays, a brass band contest and a Food and Craft Festival.
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