Treasures

A place ticked off my bucket list today. I have wanted to visit Bowes Museum since driving past it when I was a student probably over 40 years ago. Today I finally got there.

The most French looking building, it makes you feel like you are in the Loire valley. Built as a museum by the founders Josephine and John Bowes in the late nineteenth century, it houses a vast and eclectic collection of textiles, ceramics, art, furniture and silverware, not to mention the silver swan automaton (which we managed to see working at 2pm).

We had started the day at the ruins of the castle in Barnard Castle so as the day got hotter it was nice to be in a cool museum taking in the different collections. 

We had a lovely lunch in the museum cafe before stopping to pick up some handmade chocolates on our way home. 

Very hot now, so we’re sitting in the shade enjoying them.