The Witham’s 180th anniversary weekend brought together community spirit, rich heritage and stories of the future – welcoming new audiences through the doors of its historic building.
Hundreds of visitors attended to find out more about the building’s role as a historic landmark and a living, community-led space.
Celebrations centred on a free, drop-in day designed not only to look back, but to actively involve shaping what comes next.
On the Saturday, Barnard Castle Tai Chi marked World Tai Chi and Qigong Day with a free drop-in taster session for people to have a go.
Reflecting the building’s original role as a dispensary, the session also highlighted the ongoing importance of health and wellbeing within The Witham’s programme, where regular classes of Tai Chi Qigong continue to support gentle movement, mindfulness and social connection.
As visitors reflected on the drop-in activities day on Sunday, one young visitor commented: “I wish we had this every week”.
A key focus of the programme was capturing and sharing local heritage. A memory board invited visitors to contribute their own stories of The Witham, building a collective picture ranging from recent experiences to memories reaching back across generations.
These contributions form part of a growing community archive, ensuring the building’s history is shaped and told by the people who use it.
Alongside this, activities encouraged participation and thinking about the future.
A LEGO station invited younger visitors to explore ideas for what they would like to see at the venue and the role the building can play in their lives.
Hands-on sessions including pottery with Mud & More. Family-friendly activities created a welcoming environment with the overall aim of making heritage accessible to all.
Across the building, visitors were not only audiences, but active participants, including children and parents from the Little Sensations, the weekly Sunday SEND Group.
The weekend closed with a performance from Barnard Castle Band, providing a fitting moment of celebration in the music hall and connecting the building’s present with its musical past.
A spokesman for The Witham said: “This weekend has been about more than celebrating 180 years. It’s about making sure that our heritage is relevant, accessible and shaped by the people around us. From sharing memories to imagining new ideas, the community has been at the heart of it all.”
The Witham extends sincere thanks to its volunteers, partners and visitors for making the weekend such a success.
Particular thanks went to DigVentures, who spoke with visitors about the future of The Witham and Mud & More for engaging families throughout the day.
“We look forward to continuing to build on The Witham’s role in the town.”
