The Bowes Museum > About > Our History > Projects

Projects

Since 2005 significant improvements have been made to The Bowes Museum. Its roof has been fully renewed making the building watertight; the ground floor has been totally renovated, providing introductory galleries, an enlarged café and gift shop and a new reception area; new galleries have been created on the 1st and 2nd floors; and a new paintings store, library and reading room have been built; a gallery devoted to English Interiors 1500 - 1900, and a redeveloped park. Supporters have included:

Heritage Lottery Fund

One NorthEast through the County Durham Economic Partnership

English Heritage

Northern Rock Foundation

The Monument Trust

The Foyle Foundation

DCMS / Wolfson Museum and Galleries Improvement Fund

Garfield Weston Foundation

European Regional Development Fund

Designation Challenge Fund

Durham County Council

The Shears Foundation

County Durham Foundation

The Friends of The Bowes Museum

The Headley Trust

The Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust

Sir James Knott Trust

Mercers Charitable Foundation

Welton Foundation

Idlewild Trust

Margaret Phyllis Mewhort Trust

Fenwick Ltd

P T Settlement

The Bill & May Hodgson Charitable Trust administered by Dickinson Dees

Completed Projects

The Bowes Museum has undergone a series of projects to improve facilities and its infrastructure.  These include refurbishments to the following areas:

Entrance Hall

Café Bowes, Shop and Visitor Amenities

Gallery of English Interiors 1500 - 1900

Temporary Exhibition Gallery

Fashion & Textiles Gallery

Accessible Store

Picture Galleries

Silver and Metals Gallery

Function Suite

The Reference Library & Archives Reading Room

Park and Gardens

Ceramics Galleries

 

Current and Future Projects

After a considerable period of capital redevelopments, The Bowes Museum is planning its final stage of improvements which include making better use of its storage facilities, giving greater access to its public areas and more. It is also running an ambitious project to mark the centenary of the First World War. To learn more about what is happening, and what is planned for this project, visit our WW1 Project website:

Visit WW1 website.

Information about closing

19 March 2020

Unfortunately, due to the continuing development of the Coronavirus situation, The Bowes Museum is now closed until further notice. The health and wellbeing of both our customers and our staff is our priority.

Where events can be rescheduled we will endeavour to do so but please be assured that all ticket holders for cancelled events have options on refunds and can contact info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk, however by not requesting a refund you would be making an exceptionally generous and much appreciated charitable donation to The Bowes Museum during these unprecedented times.

Whilst the Museum is closed, we will be working on other ways of sharing our story and collection via our digital platforms. Stay posted for online videos, conversations and more.

We thank you for your patience and your continued support for The Bowes Museum during this unpredictable time. We hope to come back to you with a reopening date shortly, for now, please stay safe and help protect the vulnerable.

25 March 2020

It is with great sadness that The Bowes Museum has taken the decision to temporarily close all gates to the grounds following a spate of vandalism around the parkland.

Since the Museum closed on Wednesday 18 March the benches in the story area have been damaged, the totem pole pulled over and broken, there have been attempts to pull out outdoor trail markers and branches have been pulled down and plants uprooted.

The Museum is working with the police to find the perpetrators of these actions. PC Michael Banks of Durham Constabulary said "This is a shameful piece of criminal damage within the grounds of a historical location in Barnard Castle anyone with information please contact Durham Constabulary quoting reference number DHM23032020-0189"

The Director of The Bowes Museum, Adrian Jenkins, said: "It is a shame that the actions of a few will have an impact on many but this closure also ties in with the latest government advice to stay at home to help restrict the spread of coronavirus and the Museum is following in the footsteps of other organisations who have closed gated parks and gardens.

There are tips from our education officer on the Museum's social media platforms for keeping the kids, and yourselves, entertained while in isolation and we'll be updating the website regularly with new and exciting information about the collection.

In the meantime, please keep safe and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Museum and grounds when it reopens."

You can keep up to date with developments here or on our Facebook and Twitter.

We’ll be back…

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