BARNARD CASTLE, urban district, Durham, England, 17m. W. of Darlington by a branch of the London and North Eastern railway. Population (1931) 3,883. It is beautifully situ ated on the steep left bank of the Tees. There are a few pic turesque old houses, and a fragment of an Augustinian convent, but the building of chief interest is the castle, which gives the town its name, and is the principal scene of Sir Walter Scott's Rokeby. As part of the lordship of Gainford, Barnard Castle is said to have been granted by William Rufus to Guy Baliol Bar nard, son of Guy Baliol, who built the castle, and called it after himself, Castle Barnard. To the men of the town which grew up outside the castle walls he gave a charter making them bur gesses. Other confirmation charters were granted to the town by Hugh, John, and Alexander Baliol. After forfeiture by John Baliol (1296) it was claimed by the bishop of Durham but the claim was denied by the Crown which granted it to the Beau champs, from whom it passed to the Crown by marriage of Anne Nevill with Richard III.
Tanning leather was formerly one of the chief industries of the town. In the vicinity are Egglestone abbey, beautifully situ ated on the Yorkshire bank of the river, and the massive 14th century castle of Raby to the north-east. The corn-market and the manufacture of shoe thread were formerly important.