Grand opening of Beamish's first 1950s town exhibit

The welfare hall was opened to the public in the new 1950s town at Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, near Stanley, in County Durham.

The exhibit is a replica of Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre, near Bishop Auckland, which opened in 1957.

The hall is part of the £20m Remaking Beamish project – the biggest development in the museum's history.

Beamish worked closely with the community members at the original hall – now known as Coundon and Leeholme Community Centre – who shared memories, stories and objects.

The hall will host 1950s activities for visitors to enjoy, including music, dancing, crafts, keep fit and amateur dramatics, and it also features an NHS clinic.

Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project has been awarded £10.9million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Richard Evans, director of Beamish, said: "We are all very excited to be opening the welfare hall – the first exhibit in a 1950s Town that we are building at Beamish.

"Thanks to the support of the National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, our staff and volunteers have been working with people from the community in Coundon and Leeholme in County Durham for the past few years to authentically recreate this typical example of a 1950s welfare hall – and bring their stories to life.

"It's an important milestone for us at Beamish as we move into a new time period – and expand the stories we tell of everyday life in the North East.

"It's a fantastic addition to Beamish for visitors to experience – a lasting tribute to the hard work of all our staff and volunteers as well as the people of Coundon and Leeholme who have helped us. An important story for future generations to enjoy."

The original Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre was funded by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation, which provided welfare facilities for miners.

People have shared memories of Leasingthorne Colliery miners paying a weekly contribution towards the hall from their wages.

Pam Hymas, trustee and treasurer of Coundon and Leeholme Community Centre, said: "We have felt proud and privileged to have worked with Beamish and the community.

"They have welcomed the help received from past and present members and the wider community in collecting information, memories and the history from 1957 to 2019.

"This has preserved the heritage of what the miners, their families and villagers achieved and now so many more will be able to see the hall at Beamish."

David Renwick, Area Director North, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "The welfare hall is a unique insight into 1950s life and an exciting milestone for Remaking Beamish.

"From the creation of jobs and training opportunities to boosting the region’s tourism offer, we’re delighted to support Remaking Beamish, thanks to National Lottery players."

A grant from the Banks Community Fund, which is administered by County Durham Community Foundation, has contributed to the costs of the roof of the welfare hall.

Formica Group has donated Formica laminate for the welfare hall's table tops and kitchen units, featuring recreated patterns from the 1950s, and given advice and guidance about the installation.

The kitchen includes two 1950s wall units and a Dovedale sink, made in a former Spitfire factory after the war.

The hall also features Changing Places accessible facilities, including a wash and dry toilet, hoist, changing bench and adjustable basin.

The unveiling commenced with a grand parade from the museum's Events Field, through The 1900s Town to the hall, followed by the opening ceremony, including speeches and a tribute to the Leasingthorne miners, read by Coundon and Leeholme Kids 2gether Youth Club.

Beamish's 1950s Town will include a cinema, houses, shops, café, fish and chip shop, hairdresser's and bowling green.

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Aged miners' homes will provide a centre for older people, including those living with dementia.

The Remaking Beamish project also features a 1950s Farm, bus depot, and an expansion of the Georgian area, including a coaching inn, where visitors will be able to stay overnight, and early industrial buildings, including Joe the Quilter’s cottage, which opened last summer.