BARNARD-CASTLE, a market-town and chapelry in that part of the parish of GAINFORD which is in the south-western division of DARLINGTON ward, county palatine of DURHAM, 25 miles (S. W. by W.) from Durham, and 244 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 3581 inhabitants. This place is supposed to have originated, soon after the Conquest, from the decay of a more ancient town, called Marwood. About the year 1093, "William II. having bestowed extensive possessions in the vicinity upon Guido Balliol, a Norman nobleman, who accompanied the Conqueror to England, and ancestor of the kings of Scotland, his eldest son Barnard, about 1178, built here a castle, and, by a grant of privileges, encouraged the erection of houses near it, thus laying the foundation of the present town, to which he imparted his own name. It was formerly a member of the ancient wapentake of Sadberge, and for a certain period was with romantic scenery. There are two book societies one in conjunction with Staindrop. The principal articles manufactured are carpets, woollen plaids, and hats; and on the banks of the river there are several mills for spinning thread. The market is on Wednesday: fairs are held on the Wednesday in Easter and Whitsun weeks, for cattle and agricultural produce; a fair on St. Mary Magdalene's day has nearly fallen into disuse. The county magistrates hold a petty session on the first Wednesday in every month; a baronial court for the recovery of debts under 40s. is held quarexempt from the jurisdiction of the palatinate, the illus- terly; and constables and other officers are annually etrious family of Balliol, who held it for five successions« , QTvnrti'nl'arl o-f -flic* orviiY*^ lon^f r\f fVio Irvivl f\f 4>V\a vn«««u having exercised jura regalia within the franchise. Barnard Balliol, son of the founder, having espoused the cause of Galfrid, elect Bishop of Durham, the usurper Comyn despatched hither a party of soldiers, who committed great devastation, and exercised atrocious cruelty upon the inhabitants. Being forfeited to the crown, this barony, with its members, was granted to Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and continued in the possession of his descendants until 1398, when it was given by Richard II. to Scroope, Earl of Wiltshire, but was restored, in the following year, to Thomas Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and subsequently passed by marriage, with Anna, daughter and coheiress of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III., who, prior to ascending the throne, resided here, and whose crest may still be seen on the walls of the castle. In 1477, he obtained a license to found a college in the castle, for a dean and twelve secular priests, ten clerks, and six choristers, but it does not appear that this design was carried into effect. After frequent grants and reversions, the castle, honour, and privileges, with the parks, lands, and appurtenances, were purchased by an ancestor of the present Marquis of Cleveland, to whom they now belong. During the rebellion of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, in the reign of Elizabeth, the castle, which then belonged to the latter nobleman, was seized and garrisoned by Sir George Bowes, of Streatham, who defended it against the insurgents, till he was relieved by the approach of the royal army. In the great civil war it was held for the king, and was besieged by Cromwell, to whom, after a severe cannonading, the garrison surrendered. After the battle of Newburn, in 1642, part of the Scottish army was quartered here. The ruins of this important baronial edifice occupy an area of nearly seven acres, on an elevated rock near the margin of the river Tees, indicating the strength and extent of the original structure: one of the towers was repaired some years ago, and fitted up as a shot-manufactory, and the inner area has been converted into a garden. The town is situated on an eminence, rising abruptly from the southern bank of the Tees, the bridge over which was rebuilt about 1771, in which year it was swept away by a flood: it has undergone considerable improvement of late years, by the erection of new streets, and the removal of unsightly objects. The houses are built of white freestone, and have a very handsome appearance: the streets are well paved and appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor. The town hall, situated in the market-place, is an octagonal structure, erected in 1747, by Thos. Breaks, Esq.: the upper part is used for the transaction of business, and the lower for the market. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Durham, endowed with £600 private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and £1100 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Gainford. The chapel, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient and spacious cruciform structure, with a square embattled tower rising from the centre; it is partly Norman, and partly in the early and decorated styles of English architecture, with later insertions. There are places of worship for Independents and Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. A National school is supported by subscription, and by the interest of £133, bequeathed by Mr. John Dent, for the instruction of ten poor boys. An hospital, for the residence and maintenance of three aged widows, was founded by John Balliol, about the 14th of Henry III., and dedicated to St. John the Baptist; the income is nearly £200 per annum. About two miles north-west of the town there is a chalybeate spring, which is approached by walks through highly varied scenery of the most pleasing description. A Roman coin of the Emperor Trajan was dug up in the churchyard, in 1824. Sir John Hullock, one of the late barons of the Exchequer; William Hutchinson, Esq., ' author of the History and Antiquities of the County of Durham, and various other works; and George Edwards, Esq., M.D., a political writer of considerable distinction, were natives of this place. Barnard .gives the titles of viscount and baron to the Marquis of Cleveland.