Barnard Castle lies in the town with the same name in Teesdale in County Durham in England.

Barnard Castle is one of the great fortresses of northern England, sited on a cliff above the river Tees. Around it lies the village of Barnard Castle founded together with the castle. Originally built after the Norman Conquest of the Balliol family in the 11th century, its defenses were successively developed during the Middle Ages to create the castle we can see today.

After the death of its most famous owner; Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later Richard III, the castle was gradually neglected in the hands of the Crown. Even though it managed to hold out for eleven days against 5000 rebels during the Rising of the North in 1569 which left it in a ruinous state. In the following centuries the castle was dismantled.

Barnard Castle is a nice castle to visit, especially because of the hand held audio equipment you get at the entrance which takes you on a tour through the castle and its history. It really helps you to visualize.

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