Barnard Castle, County Durham

The Parkinson/Walker/Ashmore/Bowron and related families.

My grandmother Hilda Parkinson was born in No. 2, Baliol Street, Barnard Castle on the 26th of October, 1898. She was the first child of John George Parkinson and Libby Walker. John George Parkinson was born 3.10.1870 in Bridgegate and was the son of George Parkinson (Junior) and Annie Ashmore. John George Parkinson married Libby Walker (daughter of Joseph Walker (Tailor) and... [more]

Bowes Arms Public House

The building on the right of the photograph with the sign above the door is, I believe, the Bowes Arms Public House. My 3xgt grandparents, Martin and Ann Bell, were the licencees. When Martin died in 1883 Ann took over the licence until she died in 1903 when her youngest daughter then took over the licence. Eventually Martin and Ann's granddaughter... [more]

Postman standing on the corner of Galgate West with John Street

The Postman is believed to be John Blenkinsop.

Five of the entrances to   ‘Barney’   have the word   ‘gate’   (meaning   ‘way’)   in their street names.   Galgate is the northern way into the town centre.   In the 1880’s the then Local Board of Health was much concerned with making it a more dignified approach, especially as this was the first street to... [more]

The Parkinson Family

George Parkinson and his wife, Ann (nee Bowron) married:13.5.1845 at Rokeby Parish Church. After living and working at Balder Mill, just outside Cotherstone, the family moved to live at Desmesne Mill around 1853/4. The Mill has been renovated, but when The Parkinson family were there, they would have lived in the cottages. During their time... [more]

County Durham Photographic Memories

The Gothic-arched County Bridge straddles what was the old border between Yorkshire and the Palatinate of Durham. Though it is now widely accepted that the bridge was built in 1569, there is a theory that the structure is in fact older, and that the date of 1569 refers to its restoration following damage received during the Rising of the North. The... [more]

County Durham Photographic Memories

The Round Tower, or donjon, is also known as Baliol Tower. Almost 50ft high and 36ft in diameter, the tower is made of dressed ashlar sandstone and probably dates from the mid 13th century, when polygonal and round keeps were being built in preference to the more traditional rectangular ones.

County Durham Photographic Memories

There was a time when Barnard Castle was one of a number of prosperous towns in the Palatinate; the others were Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Sedgefield, Staindrop and Wolsingham. In the 18th century, Barnard Castle was an important market town and woollen textile centre. Stone-built weavers' houses, carpet weaving mills, and rope works all jostled for space along the banks of... [more]