The Bowes Museum

The second day of our Autumn break and it was raining, so drove to Barnard Castle to The Bowes Museum, which was purpose-built as a public art gallery for John Bowes, the illegitimate son of John Bowes the 10th Earl of Strathmore, and Kinghorne, and his wife Joséphine Chevalier, Countess of Montalbo. Sadly they had both died before the museum opened in 1892.

The Silver Swan musical automaton which is probably he most famous item at the museum, is played once a day at 2pm. It was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Some of the many fine paintings can be glimpsed in the background. As well as the paintings, the museum houses an astonishing collection of porcelain, clocks, sculptures, furniture and costumes to list but a few of the categories.

The gardens at the front of the museum.

The armillary sphere sundial which was erected in 2006, a memorial dedicated to the memory of the late Queen Mother. The Latin inscription 'hora transit manet amicitia,' means the hour passeth, friendship endureth.

Some of the sculptures in the grounds.

Just a short walk from the museum, in Barnard Castle the Market Cross which was built in 1747.