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Choose design which will mark link between Barnard Castle and The Bowes Museum

19/02/2010

Barnard Castle Vision is inviting the residents of Teesdale to choose the design of the marker which will lead visitors between the town centre and The Bowes Museum.

The Vision is working with Museum staff and Durham County Council to improve walking routes between the town centre and The Bowes Museum, so that visitors to one can easily incorporate the other into their time in Barnard Castle.  William Weston, of Barnard Castle Vision, said: “Both the town centre and The Bowes Museum attract their own visitors, many of whom remain unaware of the proximity of the other.  A short walk will lead you between the commercial heart of the town and the world-class museum.”

Studies carried out on behalf of Barnard Castle Vision recommended that improved pedestrian links with The Bowes Museum would encourage increased time spent in the town by visitors, in turn leading to increased trade for town centre businesses.

William Weston added: “This project will create a clearly marked pedestrian link.  In addition to the marked pathway there will be information provided along the route to encourage visitors to enjoy the town’s other facilities.”

“We are delighted to be working with the Vision on this new link from the town centre to the museum,” said Matt Leng, Head of Business and Operations at The Bowes Museum. “We hope the public will get involved in choosing their favourite design and look forward to seeing the markers in place.”

Councillor Eunice Huntington, Durham County Council Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities, added: “We want visitors to make the most of their time.  Both The Bowes Museum and Barnard Castle offer so much for tourists to enjoy, and this clearly marked link will encourage them to experience more of what the town has to offer.”

There are three designs to choose from, each incorporating a swan in recognition of The Bowes Museum’s famous exhibit.  These markers, including arrows, will indicate a change of direction, while the circular central part will be used to mark the majority of the route.  Readers are invited to respond to the Teesdale Mercury with their favourite design, and the most popular will be used to mark the route.

The metal markers will be inlaid into the paving approximately eight metres apart to mark a route from Horsemarket to a new entrance into the grounds of The Bowes Museum.  The route incorporates Hall Street, Queen Street and Birch Road.  A new entrance to The Bowes Museum, with a striking gate, will be constructed a short distance beyond the entrance to The Barracks.  The gate has been designed by local artist and blacksmith, Brian Russell, of Little Newsham Forge, who has previously refurbished the central main gates, and created the two new gates through which traffic now enters and exits the museum grounds.  The design for the new gate features The Bowes Museum’s swan motif, and the gates will be constructed from mild steel, galvanised and painted.  A new bound pathway will be created leading from the gate through the grounds of the museum.

The link scheme has been designed by landscape architects Chris Burnett Associates (CBA) which specialises in the management of historic landscapes.  CBA has worked on a number of historic landscape projects including Wray Castle in Cumbria, Tarn Hows and Monk Coniston Estate in the Lake District, and Bosworth Battlefield in Leicestershire.  The practice has also recently completed a feasibility study for the Natural History Museum in London, including concept proposals for the space in front of the planned Darwin Centre 2 building.

In creating the new pathway, damaged yorkstone on Hall Street will be replaced, and there will be repairs to kerbing and paving along the length of the route. 

The markers will be used to highlight a route along the west side of Queen Street, from Hall Street to the corner of Birch Road and along the south side of Birch Road to shortly before the Wilson Street Junction.  The route will then continue along the north side of Birch Road, in front of The Barracks to the new gate.

The work will take place in spring 2010.  With the construction of the new path within the grounds of The Bowes Museum a small number of trees will be cleared.  Barnard Castle Vision is committing to planting new trees in the town to replace these.  Installing the markers should cause little or no disruption to residents and businesses along the route.