The Barnard Castle sign (Image: ... Souvenirs, mugs, and t-shirts branded with phrases like ‘Should have gone to Barnard Castle’ flew off the shelves in 2020 and 2021.

Suddenly, Barnard Castle was everywhere, and the once-secluded market town was swarmed with reporters. “Waking up on the morning the story broke was very odd,” says my cousin Emma.

Barnard Castle's oldest house where Oliver Cromwell once dined is on market Get more from The Northern Echo with a Premium Plus digital subscription from as little as only £1.50 a week. Click here.