Free Entry, Free Attractions, Free Entrance. County Durham
and Northumberland
What
to do at the weekend, What's on at the weekend?
Things
to do FREE in Northumberland & County Durham
County
Durham Free Days Out
Egglestone
Abbey, near Barnard Castle
Ruined
12th Century Premonstratensian abbey in a picturesque setting
above the River Tees. 1½ miles (2.5km) south-east of
Barnard Castle.Opening Hours: Daily 10am - 6pm
Admission free. Disabled Access: Limited wheelchair access
(entrance via kissing gate).
Tel 0191 269 1200.
Bows
Castle
The castle
is thought to have been built by Alan, Earl of Richmond, soon
after the Norman conquest of 1066 on the site of the old Roman
fort, a date of 1087 indicating how strategic the location
was to the Norman conquerors. It appears to have been involved
in considerable conflict over the centuries with reports of
it having been besieged as early as 1173 by King William of
Scotland. It was apparently so badly damaged as to have required
rebuilding in 1187. Around 1216 enemies of King John again
besieged the castle, and again in 1322 in a regional feud
between Henry Fitzhugh and the then Earl of Richmond. The
castle keep we see now stands testimony to the choice of site
and the quality of the 1087 construction and 1173 reconstruction.
Bowes
is on the Roman road through Stainmore which led to Cataractonium
on the other side of the pennines and it appears as though
the castle was constructed on the foundations of the Lavatrae
Roman Fort. The present ruins of the castle are fifty-three
feet in height, the remains being of the keep, surrounded
on two sides by the remains of an original inner moat. There
are few remains of the original bailey wall but it is possible
to climb up part of the inside of the keep itself.
Locomotion,
The National Railway Museum at Shildon
Locomotion
is the first national museum to be built in the North East.
It combines the historic buildings and workshops of the Timothy
Hackworth Museum with a new 557 sq metre (6,000 sq ft) building
housing 60 vehicles from the National Collection, classrooms,
conservation, workshops, cafe and shop on a one kilometre
(1091 yards) long site which will also include public art,
picnic facilities and play area.
Winter Season (4th January - 7th April)
Wednesday to Sunday 10am - 4pm (closed Monday/Tuesday)
Summer
Season (8th April - 30th October) Daily 10am - 5pm
Locomotion
will open by special arrangement outside these times for groups
Locomotion, Shildon, County Durham, DL4 1PQ
Telephone (01388) 777999
Northumberland
Free Days Out
The Alfred
East Gallery is one of the County's two major public art galleries,
housing important collections by Sir Alfred East and Thomas
Cooper Gotch, some of which have recently gone on display
in the new Permanent Collection Room.
With up
to 20 different exhibitions each year there is always something
new to be seen and enjoyed including ceramics, sculpture,
photography, embroidery and paintings.
Admission
is FREE.
Alfred East Gallery
Telephone:
01536 534274
Sheep
Street Kettering NN16 0AN
Northampton
Central Museum & Art Gallery
The Central Museum reflects Northampton's proud standing as
Britain's boot and shoe capital by housing a collection of
boots and shoes which is now the largest in the world.
Fascinating
footwear worn throughout the ages is just one of the attractions
in the museum which was recently extended with the addition
of four new galleries.
Also on
display:
* Northampton's
History: objects, sound and film combined to tell the history
of the town from the Stone Age to the present.
* Decorative arts - outstanding Oriental and British ceramics.
* The Art Gallery - a fine collection of Italian 15th-18th
century paintings, and British art.
* Special temporary exhibitions.
Northampton Central Museum & Art Gallery
Guildhall Road
Northampton
Temple
of Mithras Hadrians Wall
As well
as the major forts and museums in the central sector of the
Wall, it is worth mentioning a variety of other sites which
feature a notable building or access to a particularly good
stretch of Wall. At the unexcavated Brocolitia fort are the
remains of a 3rd century temple to Mithras, a god popular
with Roman soldiers. West of Housesteads fort is a well-preserved
milecastle and Cuddy's Crag, a much photographed stretch of
wall. Further west of here, past the spectacular cliffs and
lake at Crag Lough, and just east of Once Brewed, is the equally
well-preserved Castle Nick milecastle, nestling in a fold
in the hills. Nearby is another fold containing the sycamore
tree made famous by Kevin Costner in the film Robin Hood -
Prince of Thieves. Further west, the Wall reaches its highest
point over Winshields Crags, before reaching Cawfields milecastle.
The nearby picnic site and car park are set in a former quarry
which removed a good stretch of wall while showing off to
good effect the underlying geology.
Open any reasonable time.
Morpeth
Chantry Bagpipe Museum
Set in
a 13thC church building, this unusual museum specialises in
the history and development of Northumbrian small pipes and
their music.
Open all
year, daily, Sundays 11 - 4 exept July 18th & September
5th, 1000-1700. Closed Easter (11,12 Apr), 25th - 28th Dec,
1 Jan.
The Chantry,
Bridge Street,
Morpeth,
Northumberland,
NE61 1PJ
01670 500717
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