Beamish plans £10.9 million expansion

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North has been given a grant of £10.9 million by Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to expand its visitor offering.

The funding is a milestone for Beamish as it will help the museum introduce a range of new ways for people to experience the north east’s heritage in a project called Remaking Beamish.

As part of the new scheme, over 30 new attractions and exhibits will be created for the museum site, including moved or replicated buildings from the region.

The main new attraction being planned is a reconstruction of a 1950s town which will include an operational cinema moved from Sunderland as well as examples of shops and houses.

Among these, will be a replica of the artist Norman Cornish’s house and studio and a block of mining houses.

Beamish also aims to expand the stories that it already tells from the 19th century. Visitors will also get the chance to stay overnight in the museum.

A look at rural life during the 1950s will also be involved in the reconstruction, consisting of the rebuilding of a farm that has been collected from Weardale in County Durham.

Another expected attraction is a 1820s landscape, which will include a Georgian coaching inn, a blacksmiths, a pottery, a candle house and windmill.

Work on Remaking Beamish will start this winter and will take up to four years, however the museum will remain open for visitors throughout the work process.

Richard Evans, director at Beamish, said: “The project is the result of years of careful planning – with staff and volunteers working alongside people from across the North East so we can tell their story.”

Head of HLF north east, said: “Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we’re delighted to support this vital next step for Beamish.

For more information visit www.beamish.org.uk or www.beamishtransportonline.co.uk.