A MOTHER and daughter are ‘ecstatic’ after their 1950's home won the public vote to become part of the North-East’s living history at Beamish Museum, writes Ashley Williams.

The semi-detached Sunderland home of Esther Gibbon, 92, will be replicated as part of the museum’s Remaking Beamish project.

Linda and Esther’s Red House home was announced as the winner today (Wednesday, April 1), receiving 38.7 per cent of more than 7,000 votes.

The Rochdale Road home was the top choice of nine finalists from across the region who nominated their houses to be replicated and featured in the planned 1950s town.

Linda Gilmore, 55, said: “I’m over the moon that our house has been chosen. People will be able to see the house for generations to come.”

Esther described the home her family has lived in since it was built in 1952 as a place full of ‘happy memories’.

Her daughter Linda was born in 1958 in the family home’s front room.

She said: “My mother could never contemplate moving. I also know that as a family it would be really difficult seeing another family living there.”

The Remaking Beamish project will include an upland farm, Georgian coaching inn, houses, and a police house.

There are also plans for shops, a cinema, cafe and recreation area and visitors will be transported around the development on a 1950s trolleybus system and restored buses.

Beamish plans to fund the project with initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has offered the museum a £10.5 million grant.

Beamish Director Richard Evans said: “This project has been a great way of getting people from across the North-East involved in the making of a living museum that tells their story.

“We’re very proud of the often emotional connection Beamish has with local people and it’s really important to us that we continue to tell the story of people’s everyday life through time as we continue to develop the museum.”

Mr Evans also congratulated Esther, Linda and their family for their victory.

He said: “We really look forward to working with them in the coming months and hope they will be proud to see a piece of their own history preserved forever in our living museum.”