Barnard Castle enjoys tourism BOOM thanks to Cummings effect
Barnard Castle enjoys tourism BOOM thanks to Cummings effect: Medieval fortress saw record visitors in 2021… a year after ex-No10 advisor’s infamous ‘eyesight-testing’ lockdown trip
- Barnard Castle had its best year for visitors in 2021, English Heritage revealed
- The fortress had an almost 20% increase in visitors in comparison to 2019
- The location made headlines after Dominic Cummings took a day trip to the castle during lockdown, claiming it was to test his eyesight
Barnard Castle enjoyed a boom in tourism and had its best year for visitors in 2021 after Dominic Cummings claimed he visited the site during lockdown to test his eyesight.
The town in County Durham made headlines when it was revealed that the Prime Minister’s chief adviser at the time took a day trip there on April 12, 2020 – his wife Mary Wakefield’s birthday – while Britain was in lockdown.
But English Heritage has said the castle was among many ‘hidden local gems’ which saw an increase in visitor numbers during 2021 – as more people turned to places on their doorstep due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Barnard Castle’s 12th century fortress, which belonged to Richard III and has a sensory garden, experienced an almost 20% increase in visitors in comparison to 2019, English Heritage said.
Dominic Cummings speaks at a press conference in the Rose Garden at 10 Downing Street on May 25, 2020, after it was revealed he took a day trip to Barnard Castle during lockdown
While Boscobel House, where Charles II hid from Cromwell’s soldiers in an oak tree, also had its best ever year with numbers increasing by 82% in comparison to 2019 following a relaunch of the Shropshire site.
Several lesser-known historic attractions in North Yorkshire have also achieved their highest visitor figures in over a decade, including Kirkham Priory up 75% and Pickering Castle up by 30% since 2019.
Kate Mavor, chief executive of English Heritage, said: ‘At English Heritage, we look after over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites across the country – many of which attract visitors from far and wide.
‘In the past, those lesser known, more intimate local sites in our care have often been overlooked in favour of our more iconic ones, despite having just as rich and important a history.
‘This has been a long and hard pandemic but one silver lining appears to be that with people staying closer to home, they have discovered historic places nearby.
Pictured is the County Durham beauty spot Barnard Castle, near where Mr Cummings drove to on April 12
Dominic Cummings (pictured in May 2020) came under fire for his 60-mile round trip to the County Durham beauty spot with his wife Mary Wakefield
‘We also saw last year, once our sites had reopened after lockdown, a surge in people joining English Heritage as members.
‘And it’s these members who account for more than half of those bumper visitor numbers at local sites.
‘People fell in love with their local heritage and as English Heritage members they were able to enjoy our sites for free.’
English Heritage said they had more than 372,000 people join as members in 2021 as the public explored more of their local area during the pandemic.
TOP 10 ENGLISH HERITAGE SITES WITH THE BIGGEST VISITOR INCREASES IN 2021
1. Boscobel in Shropshire – up 82% on 2019, making 2021 being its best ever year
King Charles II took refuge in this picturesque hunting lodge in 1651 after Civil War defeat, famously hiding for a day in an oak tree whilst Cromwell’s soldiers searched for him below. Latterly a thriving Victorian farm, the site boasts a host of resident farm animals.
2. Kirkham Priory in North Yorkshire – up 75% on 2019, with 2021 its best year since 2003
Founded 900 years ago on the banks of the River Derwent, Kirkham Priory was home to Augustinian Canons until its dissolution in 1539. In World War II, secret military research was conducted in its grounds.
3. Tintagel Castle in Cornwall – up 72% on 2019, with 2021 its best year ever
Built half on the mainland and half on a jagged headland projecting into the Cornish sea, Tintagel Castle is one of the most spectacular historic sites in Britain. Its association with King Arthur makes it also one of the most famous.
4. Pickering Castle in North Yorkshire – up 30% on 2019, with 2021 its best year since 2009
This splendid and remarkably well-preserved 13th century castle was used as a royal hunting lodge, holiday home and stud farm by a succession of medieval kings.
5. Yarmouth Castle on the Isle of Wight – up 22% in 2019, with 2021 its best year since 2003
Once one of Henry VIII’s most sophisticated coastal fortresses, Yarmouth Castle was designed to guard the western entrance to the Solent and prevent capture of the Isle of Wight as a prelude to larger assaults on the south of England.
6. Barnard Castle in County Durham – up 20% on 2019, with 2021 being its best ever year
Set high on a rock above the River Tees, this 12th century fortress belonged to Richard III and offers fantastic views over the Tees Gorge, as well as an attractive sensory garden.
7. Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire – up 17% on 2019, with 2021 its best year since 2001
One of England’s greatest Elizabethan and 17th century houses, with a delightfully restored Elizabethan garden, Kirby Hall is now semi-ruined but retains much of its rich decoration.
8. Wrest Park in Bedfordshire – up 12% on 2019, with 2021 being its best ever year
A magnificent 19th century French chateau style house set in an outstanding restored landscape garden originating in the 17th century. Wrest Park’s grounds reflect three centuries of English garden design, including one of the few remaining early 18th century formal gardens.
9. Aldborough Roman Site in North Yorkshire – up 2% on 2019, with 2021 its best year since 2007
The capital of the Romanised Brigantes, Britain’s largest tribe in the early Roman period, Aldborough’s treasures include a section of the original town wall, mosaic pavements and a museum with an outstanding collection of Roman finds.
10. Roche Abbey in South Yorkshire – up 2% on 2019, with 2021 its best year since 2005
Beautifully set in a valley landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown in the 18th century, 12th century Roche Abbey has one of the most complete ground plans of any English monastery and the Gothic transepts still remain to their original height.
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