The Witham

The Witham occupies a neoclassical Testimonial building on Barnard Castle's Horsemarket, put up in 1846 as a memorial to the geologist and landowner Henry Witham and first home to a Mechanics' Institute and a dispensary for the sick poor. A music hall was added at the rear around 1860. After a restoration completed in 2013, the Grade II listed complex reopened as a community arts centre run by the registered charity The Witham Hall Ltd. It holds the only public exhibition gallery on the high street, alongside a programme of theatre, live music, comedy, dance, film and workshops staged in the refurbished Victorian music hall. A cafe bar, gift shop and visitor information point share the ground floor, and the venue leans on volunteers and donations to keep its doors open.