The magnificent French style chateau took 13 years to complete. It is French both in architectural design and inspiration in contrast with contemporary English museums which followed classical designs. The building was designed with the collaboration of two architects, Jules Pellechet from France and John Edward Watson of Newcastle. The Bowes Museum was the first building in the country to be designed in metric rather than imperial. Stone was quarried at the nearby Bowes estate at Streatlam.

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