43-45 Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham, c1840.
Grade ll listed.
Former residence of surgeon Edward Nixon, surgeon for nearly 50 years to the Durham Militia (later 4th Durham Light Infantry). He first served in the Coldstream Guards under the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular War.
For most of the period in which he was Surgeon to the Durham military forces, Edward Nixon lived in Barnard Castle where his social qualities and skill in medical science were much appreciated. He died in 1869, aged 82. His medal, uniform and photograph are in the Durham Light Infantry Museum at Aykley Heads, near Durham.
Tags: barnard castle county durham plaque information heritage history
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27 Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham.
Near here stood the boundary stone of the cattle market. Formerly held at the widest part of Galgate.
From its earliest days Barnard Castle has been a market town; its main streets include the Market Place (once called the Great Market) and the Horse Market.
After many complaints about the state of the streets after a cattle market had been held in lower Galgate, an auction mart was built in 1892 in Vere Road where, much enlarged, it still exists.
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21 Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham, mid c18.
Grade ll* listed.
Formerly the residence of Sir Roderick Murchison, twice President of The Royal Geographical Society. He died in 1871, aged 79, a great geologist and explorer. A town in New Zealand, falls on the Nile, a mountain range and river in Australia and a sound in Greenland are all named after him.
When Roderick Murchison came to Barnard Castle his chief interest was fox hunting. His wife, Charlotte, who made drawings of mineralogical specimens for Henry Witham persuaded her husband, with the help of Sir Humphry Davy, that a country gentleman could become a scientist without abandoning his field sports. Murchison went on to be the only man who was President of both the Royal Geological and the Royal Geographical Societies. He was knighted in 1863 and was made Baronet in 1866.
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Blagraves, 30-32 The Bank, Barnard Castle, County Durham, C16-C17.
Grade l listed.
A 16th century house, later an inn, the accession of James 2 was celebrated here by local magistrates and there is a tradition that Oliver Cromwell was entertained here in 1648.
As well as a private house, an inn, and a restaurant, Blagraves (named after its seventeenth century owners) has been a rope-works and, in the twentieth century, a museum. The little stone musicians on the front wall are a twentieth century addition, but on one of the rear walls is a carved boar, the emblem of King Richard III.
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Market Cross, Market Place, Barnard Castle, County Durham, 1747.
Grade l listed.
This building in its time has been Town Hall, court room, lock-up and fire station. Up to the 1930's farmers wives sold dairy produce round the veranda, hence the name "Butter Market".
Though created as a Butter Market, the building is locally known as the Market Cross. Probably a market cross formerly stood here and public announcements were made from its steps. After the Butter Market was built, announcements were made from stone steps (later removed) on the southern side.
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