Witham Community Arts Centre

The Witham (formally the Witham Community Arts Centre) is a community arts centre in Barnard Castle, County Durham, England, housed in a grand neoclassical and Victorian building at 3 Horse Market. It traces its origins to 1846, when it was founded as a Mechanics' Institute and People's Dispensary, with a spacious Music Hall added in 1860. For more than 150 years it has been at the heart of Barnard Castle and Teesdale's cultural and community life. The venue presents a broad programme of theatre, music, dance, film, comedy, spoken word, exhibitions and classes, staged in its refurbished Victorian Music Hall and other spaces. Its facilities include the Music Hall, an art gallery, the Witham Café Bar, Henry's Bar, a gift shop and visitor information point, garden areas, and rooms available for hire for meetings, classes, celebrations and private events. The café is open Tuesday to Saturday, the gallery Tuesday to Saturday, and Henry's Bar on selected evenings. The Witham is a community asset that relies on volunteers, donations and visitor footfall. It operates a card-only policy for all transactions across tickets, café, bar, donations and shop purchases. Its historic buildings, including the Victorian Music Hall and Georgian-era spaces, are preserved as part of its heritage and architectural character.

The Witham's origins lie in the social reform efforts of Henry Witham, who was concerned about poor living standards and lack of education for the working poor of Barnard Castle. In 1832 he was influential in setting up a Mechanics' Institute to provide classes in practical subjects, lectures and library facilities at minimal cost. The Institute also supported the establishment of a Dispensary Society to help those who could not afford doctors' and apothecaries' bills. Henry Witham proposed a purpose-built permanent building in 1844 but died before it could be built. His fellow trustees took up his idea and raised money through public subscription to create a building in his memory. The Witham Testimonial Hall was built in 1845, and the Dispensary was well used. The programme of lectures and other public events proved so popular that what is now called the Witham Room soon became too small, and a New Mechanics' Hall was built to the rear of the Testimonial Hall. The New Hall opened to public acclaim on Thursday 6 December 1860. The complex was founded in 1846 as a Mechanics' Institute and People's Dispensary, with the spacious Music Hall added in 1860. Over the following decades it evolved through changing times, making a huge contribution to the health, education and well-being of the people of Barnard Castle and Teesdale. Its grand neoclassical façade lends distinction to Barnard Castle's market place. In the modern era the building was refurbished and reopened as a flourishing arts and community centre. Today The Witham offers theatre, music, art, dance, film, comedy and classes in its beautifully refurbished home, which began life as an educational institute, a dispensary, a library and a music hall. Its café bar and garden provide social spaces, alongside a box office and shop. The venue also hires out spaces for celebrations, parties, markets, memorials and meetings. A 48-page illustrated history book, edited by Tony Seward and sold in The Witham shop, traces the development of The Witham's role through nearly two centuries.

• 1860

  A spacious Music Hall is added; the New Mechanics' Hall opens to public acclaim on Thursday 6 December 1860.

• 1846

  The Witham is founded as a Mechanics' Institute and People's Dispensary.

• 1845

  The Witham Testimonial Hall is built by public subscription in his memory.

• 1844

  Henry Witham proposes a purpose-built permanent building but dies before it can be built.

• 1832

  Henry Witham helps set up a Mechanics' Institute in Barnard Castle to provide affordable classes, lectures and library facilities.

• The building is refurbished and reopened as a flourishing arts and community centre.

A community-owned arts and social venue at the heart of Barnard Castle and Teesdale, combining heritage architecture with a broad, accessible programme of arts and events.

• Victorian Music Hall

  Main performance and event space, beautifully refurbished.

• Witham Room

  Flexible room overlooking the high street for around 60 people.

• County Room

  Smaller meeting and workshop space.

• Art Gallery

  Dedicated gallery space for local and regional art.

• Witham Café Bar

  Award-winning café bar in the modern atrium, open Tuesday to Saturday.

• Henry's Bar

  Bar open Tuesday to Thursday evenings and Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings.

• Gift Shop and Visitor Information Point

  Shop offering gifts, tickets and local attraction information.

1. 1The Withamthewitham.org.uk
2. 2History - The Withamthewitham.org.uk
3. 3About - The Withamthewitham.org.uk
4. 4FAQs - The Withamthewitham.org.uk
5. 5Witham Community Arts Centre - Wikidatawikidata.org