Bowes Museum. Barnard Castle

This incredible museum was built in a French style solely to display a collection of artefacts owned by John & Josephine Bowes, who had lived in Paris for many years, and both wanted to create a museum for public viewing. Unfortunately they both died before the building was opened. The automated swan (dating from 1773 consists of 3000 pieces) was bought by John Bowes for the sum of £200 after he had seen it at the Paris International Exhibition in 1867. The movement lasts for 34 seconds with four different tunes to accompany it. The sun shone and the barbq worked overtime on the campsite this evening.