A CASTLE formerly used as a military hospital will host a history weekend next month (September).

Brancepeth Castle, in Brancepeth village, near Durham was used as a hospital ward for a total of 4,099 wounded servicemen during the First World War.

It will host an exhibition of old wartime photographs and memorabilia on the weekend of September 12 and 13.

Organisers from the Brancepeth Archive and History Group are keen to hear from anyone with an iron bedstead, as they wish to recreate the hospital ward for the event.

Many of the original 126 beds, which were provided by people in the village, were sold off or scrapped after the war.

Group secretary Vivienne Lowe said: “The hospital was staffed by volunteer nurses when Lord Boyne offered use of the castle in 1914 but we need some iron hospital-style bedsteads to make it all realistic. Once again, volunteers dressed as nurses will be at action stations.”

Group committee member Jim Merrington rescued one of the beds, which had been turned into a garden seat, and restored it.

“It now sits on my patio as a reminder of fact that the castle was used as a military hospital during World War One and that 4,099 wounded servicemen passed through the doors,” Mr Merrington said.

The Brancepeth’s Great War exhibition, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, September 12 and from noon to 5pm on Sunday, September 13. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Anyone with an iron bed or photographs or other items to contribute can call Vivienne Lowe on 0191-378-0974.