A very atmospheric early photograph of Barnard Castle showing the concentration of mills and other buildings between Bridgegate and the river.

The squalid and overcrowded conditions suffered by this part of the town had already led to many deaths from cholera, and by the time of this picture many of the buildings are already derelict or in a state of disrepair.

By the late 1950s most of the buildings between the riverbank and the castle walls had been demolished and new housing built. Sadly this included many fine quality and significant buildings, which today would undoubtedly have been saved.

This is a highly detailed and very evocative image which perfectly captures the towns industrial past.