Sophie and I go to Beamish most years, and we went this year to see how the new section of ‘1950’s Town’ is coming along, but of course we photographed other bits too on our way around the place.
A little History Bit ☕️ 🍪
Beamish is a world famous open air museum which brings the history of North East England to life at its 1820s Pockerley, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village, 1940s Farm, 1950s Town and 1950s Spain’s Field Farm exhibit areas.
Beamish was the vision of Dr Frank Atkinson, the Museum’s founder and first director.Frank had visited Scandinavian folk museums in the early 1950s and was inspired to create an open air museum for the North East. He realised the dramatically-changing region was losing its industrial heritage. Coal mining, ship building and iron and steel manufacturing were disappearing, along with the communities that served them.
Frank wanted the new museum to “illustrate vividly” the way of life of “ordinary people” and bring the region’s history alive. I think he did a cracking job.
That was short and sweet so on to some pictures, a combination of digital and film shots.
The first place we visited was the new 1950’s Farm. Spain’s Field Farm, from Eastgate, near Stanhope, tells the story of upland farming in the North East during the 1950s. The farm was kindly donated to Beamish by the Jopling family and around 1,170 tonnes of the farm’s stone and timber were moved to the museum after being thoroughly recorded. During the dismantling of the building a good few objects were discovered, a Georgian bread oven, and 17th century cannonball to name a few. Fragments of 1950s Farmer’s Weekly magazines, furniture and farm tools were also found. Samples from the remnants of internal paint, lino and wallpaper were also taken.
From the farm we went on to see Rowley Station, as we can never resist old train stuff! The station was originally in Rowley, near Consett, County Durham, in 1867. It has never had gas or electricity and was always lit by oil. The station was the first relocated building to be opened at the museum and was officially unveiled in 1976 by Poet Laureate Sir John Betjemin. A wrought-iron footbridge from the 1900’s town crosses the railway line and leads towards the signal box, dating from 1896. Across the tracks in the Goods Yard is a Goods Shed, dating from 1850.
I think that’s enough for this time, but
because we’ll be going back to Beamish next time. 😊
fraggle ~ rocking a camera across the Universe 
I love these farms and villages! Keep Posting! Happy Easter!
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Will do! 😊
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Love the pictures. Looks like where I grew up. I’m thinking the plough thingy is a hay rake. I used to pull something similar.
Can’t wait till they open ’80s town! Should be a Blockbuster and an arcade . . .
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Alex, are you some kind of farm animal?
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Real homesteaders always spent some time in harness. Aye, even the womenfolk on days when the Massey Ferguson wouldn’t start up.
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Not sure that’s on the cards. But 60’s and 70’s first!
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Wonderful pictures as always, evoking the bygone years of classy rail travel! East coast line from Edinburgh down south is a lovely ride…
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I’d like to know how people sat on those wooden chairs for so long….
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Probably had cushions. 😊
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I hope so!
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Second vote here for 80’s town! Then why stop there…..90’s town would rule!
These are great – love the idea of an outdoor museum.
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Cheers Melanie! Should get to the 80’s town in 2093!
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Wonderful pictures! We have a museum like that but the area is much much smaller. I love the colours of the silberzalz film. They match the topic precisely.
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Thanks Peter, I really like it too, am stockpiling rolls!
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What a delightful museum. I bet it’s very popular.
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It is Jennie. SO much to see and they do all sorts of things with kids and schools which I’m sure you’d love!
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Yes, I would!
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Nice plough thingy 😀 and old stations are always good. Happy Easter to you 🌷🐣💗
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And to you Jo!
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What a cool concept and a great place to wander about and photograph. I’ve never heard of an outdoor museum before. Also love the old train station, especially seeing the ticket office. Happy Easter, Fraggle!
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And to you Mae!
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Definitely stockpile that film! The film shots are so full of atmosphere. (Nothing wrong with the Fuji ones though)
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks Pete!
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Places like this are more than just museums, they serve to remind us of time and change. History becomes what we have today. I wonder what such museums will show about 2023 in a hundred years or so! Nice work.
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Thanks Naomi!
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As usual your history lesson made me feel very beamish, Fraggle. Oh, that talk about taking apart something brick by brick and moving it miles away, reminds me, if you are missing your old London Bridge thingy, you can find it sitting in the desert in the US’
And as always your fine camera eye and technique makes me feel beamish.
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I’d love to see London Bridge in the desert! Cheers Don!
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Interesting piece and nice photos. It’s a great place isn’t it? We went pre COVID but the farm and 50s/60s bit wasn’t complete. We must get there over the summer. We would like to visit Durham again and call in on my home town of Hartlepool and revisit the Marina and Maritime Museum.
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What a fabulous place – although the idea of a museum set in my early childhood does make me feel slightly ancient!
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Haha at least it’s not the 1800’s bit!
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It’s definitely grown in the 30+ years since I was last there.
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And still growing! cheers April.
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What an amazing place! I’d love to see something like that! I like the vintage look of some of the photos! Thanks for sharing!
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Cheers Connie, it’s a great place for a camera!
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That’s what I thought too. So many good photo opportunities!
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Fabulous photos Fraggle, you capture Beamish beautifully. I feel transported in time (sorry I’m so behind, spending the day catching up on both of your sites). Hugs, C
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Thanks Cheryl don’t be sorry, we have lives to live 😊
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