A COUNTY Durham farm that has been moved stone by stone and rebuilt at Beamish Museum will open its doors to visitors on Saturday (March 19).

For centuries, Spain’s Field Farm stood in Eastgate, near Stanhope, in Weardale, before being dismantled and transported to the Living Museum of the North, where it has been carefully rebuilt by Beamish’s team to show life in the 1950s on the region’s upland farms.

Visitors to Spain’s Field Farm at Beamish will be able to see what life was like for families living in upland farms during the 1950s.

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Spain’s Field had no electricity, and water was sourced from a nearby spring. The family that stayed there was almost self-sufficient, growing their own food and making butter, bread, cheese, and jams.

On Saturday, the farm will be officially opened at 1pm by Yvonne Forster, whose late mother Mary Forster (nee Raine) is among generations of the Raine family who lived at Spain’s Field Farm.

Generations of the Raine family lived at Spain’s Field from the 1870s until they moved out of the farm in the late 1950s although they continued to use the buildings into the 1970s.

The Northern Echo: Yvonne Forster whose family lived in the farm. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT.Yvonne Forster whose family lived in the farm. Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT.

The farm at Beamish features furniture and other items from Spain’s Field that were donated by the family.

Mary Forster, who lived there from the 1920s until she was married in the 1940s, passed away in 2020 aged 101, but laid the first stone of Spain’s Field at Beamish and her memories helped to shape the stories the museum will tell at the farm.

Her daughter Yvonne has memories of staying at Spain’s Field as a child in the 1950s.

Here's some pictures of the new attraction at Beamish:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

Pictures: SARAH CALDECOTT.

She said: “It’s a privilege to have the house rebuilt, it’s a wonderful thought that Spain’s Field is going to live on.

“My mum was absolutely thrilled. I realise how unique it is to have this happen, it’s very special.

“Spain’s Field now opens the door to generations of many more people who will have the opportunity to appreciate how these hardy and resilient people lived and worked in Weardale in the past.

The Northern Echo: Sally Dixon Assistant Director of Partnerships and Communications, Rhiannon Hiles Chief Exec, Yvonne Forster whose family lived in the farm and David Gray Chairman of the Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT.Sally Dixon Assistant Director of Partnerships and Communications, Rhiannon Hiles Chief Exec, Yvonne Forster whose family lived in the farm and David Gray Chairman of the Sir Tom Cowie Charitable Trust Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT.

“I have had the unique privilege of being part of this project, witness to the dedication of the team who have restored our much-loved old family home for posterity.”

During the opening on Saturday, there will be a procession led by Stanhope Silver Band, while choir performances, demonstrations of traditional skills such as dry-stone walling, bee keeping and basket making will also be featured.

Rhiannon Hiles, Beamish’s chief executive, added: “Bringing the story of this farm and its location in the Durham Dales to the museum has been such a wonderful experience and a real labour of love, from the initial discussions around the potential for bringing Spain’s Field to the museum, to recording and taking down the farm.

Some more images of the new Beamish attraction:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

The Northern Echo:

Pictures: SARAH CALDECOTT.

“The stories that we can tell here have been shaped by the people who lived, worked and farmed at Spain’s Field and the surrounding area. With its quirky features and wonky chimney pot, we hope that we have done this lovely farmstead justice in our recreation of a small piece of the dale.”

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