Take a stroll along the terrace and step back into the Fifties
The much-anticipated 1950s terrace at Beamish has opened in time for the halfterm holidays.
Travelbacktotheglorydays of the colourful decade with the museum’s latest attraction, which is being launched with a week of activities until February 27.
FrontStreetfeaturesJohn’s Café, Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips, Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s and a recreation of the 1950s home of North East artist Norman Cornish.
Visitorswillbeabletoenjoy ice cream and fish and chips, get a 1950s hairstyle and try their hand at sketching as they discover more about Norman and the Spennymoor Settlement.
The terrace, in Beamish’s 1950s Town, is part of the £20million Remaking Beamish project. Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project was awarded £10.9million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2016.
Rhiannon Hiles, Beamish’s Chief Executive, said: “We are so excited and proud to be opening the 1950s terrace this weekendandarereallylooking forward to welcoming visitors to the newest area of the museum. The opening of John’s Café, Middleton’s chip shop,
Norman Cornish’s home and Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s are major steps in our Remaking Beamish project, and are an integral part of our emerging 1950s Town.
“We are immensely proud oftheworkthatwedowithour communitiesacrosstheregion and it has been very special meeting with and listening to the people who have helped to shape the spaces and stories that we will be telling within the new terrace.
"Seeing the families and friends of those who lived and worked in the original spaces has been an emotive and very special time.
"We couldn’t have created these new exhibits at Beamish without them, and without the ongoing support from our funders and partners, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks.”
During the opening celebrations in half-term, visitors willbeabletodiscoverthenew exhibitsandtakepartinactivitiesincluding1950sgamesand be inspired by Norman Cornish, and take part in a sketching trail around the museum.
Ivor Crowther, Head of Investment, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund,said:“Itisfantasticnews that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, that Beamish’s 1950s terrace is opening for February halfterm.
"This important milestone in the Remaking Beamish project
means that visitors from far and wide can learn more about the North East’s rich heritage, while also giving them the chance to step back in time and see what life was like in the 50s.
"Weknowthatheritagecan playahugeroleinbringingpeople together, and this work at Beamishisafantasticexample of just that.”
The 1950s Town already features Leasingthorne Colliery
Welfare Hall and Community Centre. There will also be a cinema (rebuilt from the old Grand cinema in Ryhope), recreation ground, toy shop, electrical shop, police houses, semi-detached homes and
Airey houses.
Aged miners’ homes will provide a centre for people living with dementia and other long- term health conditions.
Beamishisopendaily,10am to 4pm during half-term.