£40,000 windfall for The Withham

Barnard Castle’s art centre has landed a £40,750 gift.

The Witham will use the cash it has received from Teesdale West Durham Land Trust (TWDLT) to give its café a makeover.

The trust was established in 2006 to work with local communities and landowners to unlock opportunities for affordable housing and other projects that would benefit people across Teesdale and West Durham.

Although the organisation has remained largely dormant over recent years, its directors were determined its funds should continue to benefit the communities they were originally intended to serve.

The donation will fund the next phase of improvements at The Witham, with a full refurbishment of the café planned for January 2027. The project follows the success of Henry’s Bar at the end of 2025 and forms part of the charity’s long-term vision to create a vibrant, financially sustainable venue that serves the community throughout the day and into the evening.

The café, which was last refurbished in 2013, will be transformed into a warm, flexible and welcoming social space, celebrating the building’s history while providing a contemporary environment where people can meet, work and relax.

Alongside the refurbishment, the centre will continue to develop its food and drink to better meet the needs of visitors and support the long-term sustainability of the charity.

Graham Pilkington, director of TWDLT, said: “Although the trust has now come to an end, it was important to us that its remaining funds continued to make a lasting difference for local people. A huge thank you for the support from local councillors too.

“Rural communities need places where people can come together, experience culture and feel connected. The Witham is a unique venue that enriches lives across Teesdale and, after seeing the success of Henry’s Bar, it felt like the right time to support its next chapter.

“We’re excited to see how the café refurbishment helps strengthen The Witham’s long-term sustainability, so it can continue serving the community for many years to come.”

The Witham’s centre director, Amy Hughes, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Graham and the directors of Teesdale West Durham Land Trust CIC for this remarkable gift.

“Their generosity is a huge vote of confidence in The Witham and the role it plays within our community.”

“Following the success of Henry’s Bar, the café refurbishment is the natural next step. We want to create a welcoming space where people choose to spend time, whether they’re coming to a performance, meeting friends, working, relaxing or simply popping in for a coffee.

“This investment won’t just improve the visitor experience, it’ll also help secure The Witham’s future.

“Every pound generated through our café and bar is reinvested back into our arts programme, community activities and the care of this historic building.”

Work is expected to begin in January 2027, with further details about the refurbishment being announced later this year.