We arrived at breakfast to find that most items were in short supply, causing us to hurry through breakfast rather than tarry a while.
We walked to Durham Town square to see various features including the History time line that is featured on the pathway across the square. We ventured into the market to see its architectural features before visiting the Town Hall where I knew there was a hidden gem behind the unimposing frontage, the Medieval Guild Hall built in 1665.
Sadly the church of St Nicholas was shut. This seemed to be an emerging theme with churches in Durham so we decided not to venture further to St Oswalds’ church which was also on our morning ‘to visit’ list.
Instead we drove to Shildon to visit the National Railway Museum. We arrived to find it shut on Mondays and Tuesdays…
Plan B came into operation, a visit to the Bowes Museum. We arrived just in time for lunch so we joined the queue for the tearoom. When we were seated we realised why there was a long queue, the system they operate is not very organised. The food, when it arrived, was delicious. The French chateau styled building and the collections within are a delight. I enjoyed the galleries of paintings, in particular those showing biblical scenes and figures.
Despite the earlier chaos in the tearoom, we decided that afternoon tea and cake was in order before heading back to the hotel. The queue was shorter and the tearoom less full but the service was just as chaotic as it had been at lunch. We shared a delicious slice of chocolate and orange cake.
Later we dined in Restaurant 17 followed by our now customary night cap in the Swan before retiring to our hotel.
I was very impressed with Bowes Museum, not because the North didn’t have any wonderful collections but because I hadn’t ever analysed Bowes in particular. The architecture is so amazing that I will have to dedicate a special post to the topic.
Many thanks.
I particularly liked some of the artworks and the silver swan which we were unable to see performing live.
My old haunts, more than 50 years ago, so enjoyed reading about your travels there and seeing your pictures.
Thank you, I am so glad that I brought back happy memories for you
Durham is so special too, the only place name with “county” not your usual “~shire” in England.
Plus some of my ancestors come from Durham County (and North Yorkshire).