We visited Beamish Museums 1950’s town to see how construction was coming along at the Living Museum of the North’s latest feature, and to visit the replicas that are based on buildings from all over the North East. 

Visitors can find the new 1950’s Town beside the 1900’s town at the museum. Builders are currently developing the newest venture for Beamish, in Stanley. Reporter Darcie Rawlings headed over to the town check it out.

Now at the 1950s Front Street Terrace includes a hairdresser in a replica of a terrace shop from Bow Street in Middlesbrough, where visitors can walk into the waiting area and even get their hair styled.

The Northern Echo: There is certainly a noticeable decor theme among the new 1950's houses

Popping into the shop visitors can also get their picture taken under the row of 50s hair dryers behind the pastel pink tiles, which felt like stepping into real-life hairspray.

I also visited Johns Café on the front street, a recreation of the popular café from Wingate in County Durham. The café was owned by Giovanni Baptista Parisella, known locally as John.

Full of treats the menu includes ice cream made in the café, as well as other 1950s favourites including macaroni cheese, hot Bovril and hot Vimto.

There was also a sizeable jukebox at the entrance which was playing 1950’s classics like Johnny Cash and Elvis.

With plenty of warming meal options on the menu I tried the cheese and onion toastie which arrived with a portion of crisps, this was delicious and perfect for a quick lunch when visiting the museum – there was also an option for vegan cheese.

The Northern Echo: A cheese and onion toastie from John's Café in the 1950's town

If a sit-down snack isn’t what you fancy there is also the new 1950’s chip shop which is a replica of a shop from Middleton St George, near Darlington.

To ensure the shop is as close a replica as possible Beamish worked with the community of Middleton St George to create a 1950s-style newspaper to wrap the fish and chips. A vegetarian chip option is also available here.

As part of the 1950s Town, we have replicated a pair of semi-detached houses from Red House in Sunderland.

The Northern Echo: Some classic 1950's reading found in one of the 1950's semi-detached houses

At the 1950’s town there are two semi-detached council houses 45 and 47 Rochdale Road where visitors can learn about the expansion of housing in the 1950s.

Another addition the town and the first building to open the Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre, is a replica of the one built near Bishop Auckland in 1957. Host to different activities throughout the year the Welfare Hall displayed a music through time exhibition on my visit.

The Northern Echo: The first building to open in the town is Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre

Perfect for children the Coronation Park and Recreation ground features a 1950s-style playground, sandpit, a giant draughts board, football area and miniature golf course which includes North East themed obstacles such as Sycamore Gap and the Tyne Bridge.

There is also a replica of Billingham Bowling Green from John Whitehead Park in the town, located in front of aged mineworkers’ homes, which are a replica of cottages from Marsden Road, South Shields.

The Northern Echo: Norman Cornish paintings in the replica of his house

Visitors can also look inside No. 2 Front Street which is a recreation of the former home of celebrated North East artist Norman Cornish, looping through the rooms full of paintings and other artworks tells the story of the Spennymoor Settlement of artists, writers and poets.

Beamish have also erected two police houses from Heworth, Gateshead, including their police offices.

For any want-to-be officers, visitors can call in suspicious activity using a telephone as well as responding to crimes in the 1950’s town.

The Northern Echo: A police desk in a replica house from from Heworth, Gateshead

Adding to the 1950’S town, in the coming year include The Grand Cinema, originally from Ryhope, Sunderland, which will give visitors a chance to experience a trip to the pictures from the 1950’s.

The new cinema is being re-created, incorporating as many elements and features of the original building as possible, and brought to life with the screening of films, period newsreels and adverts.

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A toy shop named after the popular Romer Parrish store, in Middlesbrough, and an electrical shop and radio repair workshop, A Reece Ltd, are also due to open on the Front Street of the open-air museum’s 1950s Town.

Daytime events are included in admission to the museum and visitors can use the Beamish Unlimited Pass or Friends of Beamish membership to enjoy those activities, paying once and visiting free for twelve months.

More information can be found on the museum’s website www.beamish.org.uk.