The Bowes Museum is a grade 1 listed building and has been described by English Heritage as being ‘of international and exceptional significance’. Until very recently the building was named on English Heritage’s list of endangered buildings, because of the state of disrepair of the roof. The original lead and slate covered roof had perished to a point where patch repairs were no longer possible. Urgent repair work began in September 2005 and now about 60% of the roof is now completely watertight. A new phase of works to complete the roof has just begun and will complete in early 2009.

The repair of the roof has always been seen as the catalyst to enable internal improvements at The Bowes Museum. Spaces directly under the roof previously not available to the public will now be transformed into magnificent rooms for visitors to enjoy.