The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
Durham
DL12 8NP
England
Website
Telephone
01833 690606
Fax
01833 637163
Founded over 100 years ago, by John and Joséphine Bowes, the magnificent building contains the greatest collection of European fine and decorative arts in the North of England.
Venue Type:
Museum
Additional info
The Museum's reference library is staffed by the Friends of The Bowes Museum. It is open Tuesday,Wednesday and Thursday By appointment only. Please ring for details.
The Friends of The Bowes Museum offer free guided tours of the galleries. For more information, or to pre-book your place please contact us.
Handling Sessions may be arranged in advance.
The entire collection of the Bowes Museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.
This collection contains paintings, ceramics, items of woodwork, objects d’art and textiles. Before Josephine’s death in 1874, John Bowes and his French wife had amassed some 15,000 objects of all types of European fine and decorative arts from the period 1400-1870. The bills for this collecting activity survive in the museum’s archive. Acquisitions made more recently such as the Enid Goldblatt collection of porcelain, have reinforced the continental feel of the museum.
The Museum holds an outstanding collection of European fine and decorative arts of the period 1400-1875, specialising in French and Spanish paintings. There is an extensive collection of English furniture, European ceramics and textiles, as well as archaeological material and archives from County Durham and social history from Teesdale.
Collection details
Weapons and War, Toys and Hobbies, Social History, Religion, Photography, Personalities, Natural Sciences, Music, Literature, Fine Art, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Coins and Medals, Archives, Archaeology
Key artists and exhibits
- Silver Swan
- James Cox
- Pease Train
- Clockwork Toys
- Canaletto
- El Greco
- Goya
- Tiepolo
- Boucher
- Revolving Band Clock
- Giordano
- Turner
- Japanese Tiger
- Portrait of Josephine Bowes
- Portrait of John Bowes
- Paintings by Josephine Bowes
- Designated Collection
Material Remains
This captivating exhibition – the first showing of this new body of work in the UK - has been specially created for the museum’s award winning gallery. It is an enchanting exploration by artist Diana Winkfield, who has taken her inspiration from objects found while refurbishing her French farmhouse, and items from the museum collection.
Admission
Free
Jeremiah Dixon & the Anniversary of the Mason-Dixon Line
Jeremiah Dixon, British surveyor and astronomer was brought up in County Durham but became best known for his work with Charles Mason in determining the Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland. This exhibition will mark the 250th anniversary of the Mason Dixon Line and will include items such as model ships, surveying equipment and historic maps to celebrate the mapping of the famous border.
Admission
Free
Family Fun Day - Terrific Tudors
Learn about the Tudors and try our fun drop in activities: make a Tudor mask, meet a Tudor maid & talk to her about the objects on her table. Create a jester stick or make a finger puppet. Explore the Museum with a themed trail. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
When
11am-4pm
Admission
Free
Treasure Boxes!
Look at the Museum’s collection of decorated boxes and be inspired to Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Treasure Boxes!
Look at the Museum’s collection of decorated boxes and be inspired to Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Summer School
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch & must participate in all four sessions of the school.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-2pm
Admission
£30.00 per child
Swan Cup Creations
Recreate your own cup using air hardening clay. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. NB: you are not able to drink from the cups, they are purely for decoration. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Swan Cup Creations
Recreate your own cup using air hardening clay. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. NB: you are not able to drink from the cups, they are purely for decoration. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Silver Swan Crafts
Sketch the famous Silver Swan and then create some wonderful swan inspired crafts. Activities include a Silver Swan foil collage, a finger puppet and a swan bookmark. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Printing Birds
Sketch some of the amazing birds in the museum collection and then transform your artwork into amazing prints! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. Children must be aged 6+. Sessions from 10:30am to 12:00pm or 13:00 to 14:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£4.00 per child.
Summer School
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch & must participate in all four sessions of the school.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-2pm
Admission
£30.00 per child
Family Fun Day – Shiver Me Timbers!
Join in this fun packed day of drop in fun for all the family. Activities include making pirate hats, treasure boxes & simple model boats, plus storytelling with Adam Bushnell. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
When
11-4am
Admission
Free
Ships ahoy!
Come and see a wonderful model boat in the Jeremiah Dixon exhibition and create your very own boat to take home! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Printing Birds
Sketch some of the amazing birds in the museum collection and then transform your artwork into amazing prints! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. Children must be aged 6+. Sessions from 10:30am to 12:00pm or 13:00 to 14:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£4.00 per child.
Printing Birds
Sketch some of the amazing birds in the museum collection and then transform your artwork into amazing prints! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. Children must be aged 6+. Sessions from 10:30am to 12:00pm or 13:00 to 14:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£4.00 per child.
Summer School
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch & must participate in all four sessions of the school.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-2pm
Admission
£30.00 per child
Birds, birds, birds!
Come fly with us in this fun drop in workshop, using wire to create your very own bird hanging mobile, taking inspiration from birds in the Museum collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
When
10:30am-3:30pm
Admission
Free
Summer School
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch & must participate in all four sessions of the school.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-2pm
Admission
£30.00 per child
Hanging Clay Birds
Use air drying clay to make some beautiful hanging birds. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. Times 10:30 to 12:00 or 13:00 to 14:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Hanging Clay Birds
Use air drying clay to make some beautiful hanging birds. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. Times 10:30 to 12:00 or 13:00 to 14:30.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Kite Making Workshop
Back by popular demand – meet kiteman Malcolm Goodman and see some of the wonderful examples in his collection. Learn interesting facts about kites and then have a go making one – he guarantees every kite will fly! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
When
10am-3pm
Admission
£4.50 per child
Family Fun Day - Birds Galore!
Join in this fun packed day of drop in activities for all the family, making bird badges, finger print birds, collages & exploring the Museum via a themed trail. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
When
11am-4pm
Admission
Free
Beautiful Bird Feeders
Decorate your own wooden bird feeder to place in the garden. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 11-13
- 7-10
- 0-4
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
Activity £4.50 per child.
Animal Silk Painting
A swan, monkey or even a mouse could be the inspiration for your silk painting! 10:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 3.00
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-3pm
Admission
£4.00 per child
Animal Silk Painting
A swan, monkey or even a mouse could be the inspiration for your silk painting! 10:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 3.00
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-3pm
Admission
£4.00 per child
Beautiful Bird Feeders
Decorate your own wooden bird feeder to place in the garden. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event.
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 11-13
- 7-10
- 0-4
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
Activity £4.50 per child.
Little Explorers!
Try this fun drop in workshop and make a map and telescope so that you can become an explorer, just like Jeremiah Dixon! Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
When
10:30am-3:30pm
Admission
Free
Bird Crafts
The Bowes Museum is full of bird themed objects. Take a look and then create your very own wonderful foil bird model! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 3.00.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-3pm
Admission
£3.50 per child
Bird Crafts
The Bowes Museum is full of bird themed objects. Take a look and then create your very own wonderful foil bird model! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:00 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 3.00.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10am-3pm
Admission
£3.50 per child
Family Fun Day - How to Hide a Lion
Make a pop-up iceberg card, a collage character, a lion mask or design a moving suit of armour! Celebrate the opening of the new children’s exhibition and take part in this fun packed day of drop in activities relating to Helen Stephens’ amazing books. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
When
11am-4pm
Admission
Free
Look out! It’s Halloween
Be brave and take part in this Halloween themed craft workshop! Activities include: pompom spiders, foil bugs and hanging bats. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Look out! It’s Halloween
Be brave and take part in this Halloween themed craft workshop! Activities include: pompom spiders, foil bugs and hanging bats. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
Shhhhh Storytime!
Listen to ‘Fleabag’, written by Helen Stephens, and make some wonderful crafts relating to the book. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for this event. 10:30 - 12:00 or 1:00 - 2:30
When
10:30am-2:30pm
Admission
£3.00 per child
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