The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum Outstanding collections of art, fashion & design housed in a beautiful French-style public museum set in gardens and parkland
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Set in beautiful gardens in Barnard Castle, The Bowes Museum is a stunning French-style public museum with world-class art, fashion and textile collections. Founded by Joséphine and John Bowes in 1892, this iconic building is home to 22 galleries, incredible exhibitions and 22 acres of parkland to explore. Discover paintings, ceramics, textiles, clocks and interiors, plus inspiring displays from contemporary artists.

🏛️ Two days. Free entry. So much to discover.Join us on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September as The Bowes Museum celebrat...
03/09/2026

🏛️ Two days. Free entry. So much to discover.

Join us on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September as The Bowes Museum celebrates Heritage Open Days with two completely free days of history, creativity and discovery.

Inspired by this year’s theme, Everyday Histories, there’ll be plenty happening throughout the museum:

🔐 Go behind the scenes with exclusive Vault Tours
🌳 Join guided tours of the museum and parkland
🦢 See the iconic Silver Swan perform twice each day
👣 Follow the Everyday Histories Trail, created by our Young Volunteers
🎨 Get creative with Artist Maker workshops
🏺 Get closer to the collection at our Object Handling Table

You can also explore Norman Cornish: A Life in Sketchbooks, celebrating one of County Durham’s best-loved artists and his depictions of everyday life in the North East, before creating a sketch of your own at the Cornish Sketchbook Station.

✨ Free entry. No booking required.

Simply come along and see what you discover.

💍 A watch – but perhaps not as you know it...This extraordinary gold ring watch from the collection packs an incredible ...
02/09/2026

💍 A watch – but perhaps not as you know it...

This extraordinary gold ring watch from the collection packs an incredible amount of detail into a very small object.

At its centre is a white enamel watch face with black Roman numerals, surrounded by blue enamel, delicate gold wreaths and a border of split seed pearls. Beneath the dial hangs a tiny white enamel heart topped with red flames. ❤️‍🔥

But there’s another surprise. Above the watch face is a miniature automaton movement, featuring four swirling arms set with paste stones which would have revolved – possibly on the hour.

Jewellery, timepiece and automaton all in one – imagine wearing this on your finger.

Object: Ring Watch, maker unknown. CW.68

🍂 Coming up at The Bowes Museum this SeptemberA new month brings plenty more to see, do and discover at the museum. Here...
01/09/2026

🍂 Coming up at The Bowes Museum this September

A new month brings plenty more to see, do and discover at the museum. Here are a few dates for your diary:

👗 Thursday 3 September | 11–11:30am
Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary Spotlight Tour
Join our Curator (Fashion & Textiles), Rachel Whitworth, for the final Spotlight Tour before the exhibition closes.

🏛️ Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September | 10am–5pm
Heritage Open Days
Enjoy free entry to the museum, alongside tours, creative activities, Silver Swan performances and more.

👶 Thursday 24 September | 11am–12pm
Bowes Babies
A relaxed, creative museum session designed especially for our littlest visitors.

📚 Sunday 27 September | 2:30–3:30pm
Bowes Book Club
Join fellow readers for conversation, collection stories and a cuppa.

🔗 Discover everything happening this September and book your places:
https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/

Love visiting The Bowes Museum? A Membership gives you the freedom to come back again and again, while directly supporti...
31/08/2026

Love visiting The Bowes Museum? A Membership gives you the freedom to come back again and again, while directly supporting the work we do.

As a Member, you’ll enjoy:

🏛️ Unlimited visits for 12 months
🖼️ Access to our year-long programme of changing exhibitions
✨ Opportunities to attend exhibition previews
🔐 Members-only events and tours
📩 Regular news and updates
🎟️ Priority booking for selected events

And your Membership does much more than unlock a year of visits.

As an independent charity, your support helps us care for the extraordinary collection, building and parkland for future generations, while supporting our work with local schools, community groups and people across the region.

Enjoy more of the museum you love, while helping us continue to make a difference.

🔗 Learn more and become a Member today:
https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/admission/

30/08/2026

Last chance to see Vivienne Westwood: Rebel - Storyteller - Visionary

Open every day until Sunday 6 September

29/08/2026

🛍️ Vivienne Westwood Sale!

Enjoy a discount on selected Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary merchandise in The Bowes Museum Shop.

Whether you’ve visited the exhibition and want a memento of your day, or simply love Westwood’s unmistakable style, now is the perfect time to take home something special.

✨ Selected merchandise now reduced
🏛️ Shop in person at The Bowes Museum
💻 Or browse the sale online

Shop the collection:
https://shop.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/product-category/exhibition-merchandise/

👗 Final Vivienne Westwood Spotlight Tour📅 Thursday 3 September | 11–11:30amAs Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – V...
28/08/2026

👗 Final Vivienne Westwood Spotlight Tour

📅 Thursday 3 September | 11–11:30am

As Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary enters its final days, join Rachel Whitworth, Curator (Fashion & Textiles), for the exhibition’s final Spotlight Tour.

Go behind the scenes of the exhibition and discover how it was brought to life, from the careful selection of objects to the decision to display pieces from The Bowes Museum’s collection alongside designs by Vivienne Westwood.

Hear the stories behind the curation, explore some of the creative decisions that shaped the galleries and see the exhibition through the eyes of its curator.

Don’t miss this final opportunity to delve deeper before the exhibition closes on Sunday 6 September.

27/08/2026

👗 Make the most of the Bank Holiday weekend at The Bowes Museum

With Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary closing on Sunday 6 September, the Bank Holiday weekend is one of your final chances to experience this major multi-gallery exhibition.

Discover extraordinary ensembles, iconic designs and the stories behind one of Britain’s most provocative and imaginative fashion designers.

Make a day of it – explore the rest of the museum, enjoy our beautiful parkland and stop for something delicious at Café Bowes.

⏳ The countdown is on. Don’t miss out.

🎨 We’re hiring: Producer (Young People and Adults)Are you passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for people ...
26/08/2026

🎨 We’re hiring: Producer (Young People and Adults)

Are you passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for people to engage with art, culture and heritage?

We’re looking for a creative and proactive Producer (Young People and Adults) to develop and deliver inspiring learning programmes, events and projects at The Bowes Museum.

Working with colleagues, communities, artists, designers and makers, you’ll help connect young people and adults with the collection, building and parkland through creativity, collaboration and co-production.

We’re looking for someone with experience of working with young people and adult audiences, developing programmes and community engagement, and commissioning creative practitioners.

Role details:
⏰ 30 hours per week
📄 Permanent
💷 £22,364.92 (actual salary)
📅 Closing date: 8am,Friday 18 September 2026

Interested in helping shape creative experiences at The Bowes Museum?

🔗 Learn more and apply:
https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/jobs-and-volunteering/producer/

🐶 Happy International Dog Day!To celebrate, we’re sharing this charming s***f box from the collection – guarded by a rat...
26/08/2026

🐶 Happy International Dog Day!

To celebrate, we’re sharing this charming s***f box from the collection – guarded by a rather distinguished furry friend.

The box takes the form of a crouching dog, with its body intricately worked to resemble fur. Look closely and you’ll spot a gilt collar around its neck, while the base has been decorated to resemble a patterned cushion.

A practical object disguised as a tiny canine companion!

Object: S***f Box c. 1840-50, maker unknown. X.4616

Address

Newgate
Barnard Castle
DL128NP

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+441833690606

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