New information board points the way to Barnard Castle's past

A PROJECT to replace a dilapidated interpretation board has prompted new thinking on Roman history in Barnard Castle.
It had long been thought that the Romans used a ford to cross the River Tees below the castle walls following the discovery of an ancient road during the construction of a gas holder in the early 1800s.
These views were inscribed on an interpretation board at the site of the old gasworks.
When the board was no longer fit for purpose, the town council decided to commission a new one with help from heritage interpreter Neil Diment, county archaeologist David Mason, gasworks engineer and amateur historian Charles Lillie, and archaeological consultant Caroline Hardie to update the information on the board.
Cllr Roger Peat, who unveiled the board last week, said: “The research has shed much light on the history of the site, notably the Roman crossing point across the River Tees, which was previously thought to be a ford.
“As the panel shows, this is more likely to have been a bridge.” Mr Lillie added: “I am convinced it was a bridge. Because of the state of the winter, they wouldn’t have relied on a ford.”
The site now also has a new name – Roman way.