Bowes Museum

Om museet

The Bowes Museum was built to house the collection of John Bowes and his wife Joséphine Benoîte Coffin-Chevallier. Bowes was the illegitimate son of the 10th Earl of Strathmore, and the couple collected European paintings, furniture, ceramics, textiles and other decorative arts. They planned the museum together as a public art gallery for the town of Barnard Castle and its region. Work on the building began in 1869 to designs by the French architect Jules Pellechet with John Edward Watson of Newcastle.

Both founders died before the museum was finished, and it opened to the public in 1892. The building, in the style of a French chateau or town hall, stands in landscaped grounds above the River Tees and still dominates the town. John Bowes left an endowment and about 800 paintings, and the wider collection grew to some 15,000 objects.

A large redevelopment from 2005 created new galleries for fashion and textiles, silver and English interiors, along with study and learning spaces. Today the museum holds paintings by artists such as Goya, Canaletto, Van Dyck and El Greco, together with costume, porcelain, tapestries and clocks, and shows changing exhibitions. Its best-known object is the Silver Swan, an 18th-century automaton that preens, looks round and appears to catch a fish. The museum is run by a registered charity.

Højdepunkter

• Silver Swan automaton, shown working every day at 2pm
• European paintings including works by Goya, Canaletto and Van Dyck
• Fashion and textiles galleries and collections of ceramics and silver
• French-style chateau building with 22 galleries
• 22 acres of parkland and gardens with woodland walks

Permanente udstillinger

• The Silver Swan – An 18th-century life-size automaton that preens, looks round and appears to catch a fish; it is demonstrated daily at 2pm.
• Joséphine and John Bowes – The story of the founders and how they collected art for a public museum.

Grundlagt

1892

Ejer

The Bowes Museum (registered charity)

Entrépriser & rabatter

The standard day ticket costs 20 pounds; a day ticket including a Gift Aid donation costs 22 pounds. Day tickets need not be booked in advance. National Art Pass holders are admitted free. Visitors arriving by bus can get two-for-one entry between 30 May and 31 December 2026.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

A lift and stairs serve all floors, and all floors have level access. Wheelchairs and folding gallery stools can be borrowed free of charge; wheelchairs should be requested in advance. Accessible parking spaces are directly behind the building, and an accessible entrance on the east side has an intercom to the welcome team. Accessible toilets are on the ground and first floors. Audio induction loops are at reception, in the shop and in Cafe Bowes, and portable loops are available on all three floors. Large print maps are available on request and large print menus in the cafe. Guide and assistance dogs are welcome. A 3D virtual accessibility tour and a floor plan are on the website.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Interaktive stationer
• Legeplads / legehjørne

Under-18s are admitted free. There is a regular programme of family events included in admission, such as weekly Thursday activities, Bowes Babies on Saturday afternoons and holiday workshops. Families can pick up the Everyday Histories Trail in the entrance hall. The Create Space invites visitors to make art, and the gardens have woodland walks and a picnic and play area.

Transport & parkering

The museum is on Newgate, about 500 metres from the Market Cross in the town centre, reached from the A66 or A67. It holds the Good Journey mark for car-free visitors.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik

Cafe Bowes serves local seasonal food and drinks and was named Cafe of the Year in 2024. There is a museum shop.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Op til 80 personer.

Rooms for hire include the Jubilee Room, the Music Room, the Picture Galleries and the Education Vaults. Corporate events can host up to 80 guests with audiovisual equipment and catering from the cafe.

Planlæg dit besøg