One thing I can say with certainty is that a Stottie doesn’t half fill you up and provide plenty of energy: arriving at Beamish: The Living Museum of the North, His Nibs and I were raring to explore the myriad sites within this open-air museum after having had a Bacon Stottie.
The ‘Visit County Durham’ team had kindly provided us with entry tickets (usually £35 for adults, valid for a whole year from purchase date for unlimited revisits) and a £10 voucher each for refreshments whilst we were there. You can’t fail to notice the entrance to the Museum; a huge 1883-built steam hammer called ‘Tiny Tim’ stands proudly, waiting for visitors to pass underneath!
For a moment, I thought we were back in the ‘Shire as a Tram rolled into view! Turns out that Trams, as well as Buses (and occasionally horse-drawn vehicles) provide one mode of getting around Beamish. You can choose to walk on foot around, too, and the footpaths are very well maintained and signposts visible and frequent.
The Man and I were time-poor though, so we hopped on the Tram to our first stop: the 1900s Pit Village and 1900s Colliery. Both of us come from mining families, so it was fascinating to get a glimpse into what our ancestors’ lives could’ve been like.
It was in this area that we stopped for a spot of lunch: Beef-dripping fried Chips and ‘Dab’, a small portion of Fish, from Davy’s Fried Fish Shop. Talk about tasty, and forward-thinking; Beef Dripping chips are all the rage at discerning restaurants nowadays, but folks in the 1900s appreciated them first!
We headed back to the Tram stop and hopped over to Rowley [train] Station next, sad to discover that the Train had very recently stopped running for the season. Never mind, the station still looked glorious... and there were the Fairground rides to enjoy. Fancy a spin on the Carousel or Swing-Boats, anyone?
A short walk saw us in the heart of the 1900s town, where we found a Dentist’s surgery in one of the houses, a stables and carriage house, sweet shop, bank, and bakery.
Moving on again on the Tram, we hopped into the 1950s town, and got a glimpse of how our Nans may have got their hair done for heading out to the Dance Hall or stepping out to the Cinema. Period allotments, a bowling green and pavilion, and Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips were all here as well.
From our viewpoint on the upper level of the Tram, we got great views of the 1820s landscape, the 1940s and 1950s farms and back past the Colliery, returning to the entrance stop.
It is easy to see how people spend entire days at Beamish Museum – there is so much to see and do, and the costumed volunteers and staff throw themselves wholeheartedly into their roles, relishing the task of bringing history to life for those of all ages.
Dogs are permitted throughout the museum and, on foot, Beamish is excellent to explore. The Man and I both lost ourselves totally for three hours and, if we hadn’t got engagements in Durham itself, would’ve happily explored more!
Parking is a doddle; staff marshal you to vacant spots and there is a vast amount of space to park, so no hassles there.
Hot Wings happily given to this wonderful museum that doesn’t replicate buildings; it dismantles them and then rebuilds them at Beamish. Remarkable, no?
