Bishop Auckland

'Aycliffe Village Local History Society had its inaugural meeting 30 November, 2004. It is for anyone interested in local history, especially that of the Great Aycliffe area. Normally, ' meetings are held on Wednesdays at 7.30 p.m. at Aycliffe Village Hall.'

'John Bowes and his French wife Joséphine created a magnificent chateau in rural Teesdale to house their collections of European fine and decorative art, ceramics and textiles ... The Bowes Museum is very conscious of its history, and the remarkable survival of the collections and associated bills under one roof. It is also conscious of its position in the North of England as providing an aspect of European art history and collecting for the people of the North East, and a starting point for the more detailed researches into related history for local people and beyond. To that end, it has instigated a variety of research and cataloging projects that aim to make its collections better known, and provide access to the library and archive via a newly built reference library and reading room in the Museum’s dome. '