General Chat

Anyone been there.Its an outdoor working museum.People dressed up in costume and carrying on conversation as they are "working".You interact by asking questions.Beamish is not far from Gateshead and its set in the grounds of a stately home.It has a farm,coal mine,railway station,Victorian village,school house,manor house 1600c I think also an 1800c one.victorian fairground and more.Remember the old co-op and the overhead devise for paying your money which disappeared upstairs and came back with your change.The Catherine Cookson dramas have been made there.On visiting the village we went into the dentist.There were a lot of school kids asking questions.The dentist said if a girl wasnt married by 21 the father would take her to the dentist to have all her teeth pulled out to make her more marriageable as she wouldnt cost her husband money lol.No wonder they broke their necks to get married young.If anyone is up that way its a great day out and you do need a full day.Great history lesson for the kids and marvellous for those who enjoy old things.

I agree, Margaret. It's a great place. Strangely it was just yesterday that I came across the piece of paper which my daughter signed with her name, with a pen dipped into 'proper' ink, when she was 'in school' there, several years ago. At the end of our day we took the tram for a view of the whole site. If we are up North, I would certainly go again.

Hi Dave.The same thing at Beamish a schoolteacher wacking his cane on the desk scarying the kids.What came across to me was what a hard life they led.The coal mine we went into.You had to bend right over to get in,you couldnt straighten up.The man at the coal face had to lie done to dig out the coal.It was awful just being in there for a short time.No wonder many died young with pit collapses etc.

Hi Gwyneth.It has been so well done even down to the type of flowers and veg that would be growing in the manor house garden.I would love to go again.Its been 5 years as Im overseas They were building a masonic hall when we were there probably has more now.

Margaret Yes the cramped coalmine impressed me too. If ever you are near Cardiff, visit St Fagans on the western outskirts. It has old buildings rescued from demolition, tannery, chapel, bakers, village stores, cottages etc. It's the Welsh Folk Museum and again you want plenty of time as there is so much to see. I love it there and hope to take my grandson for his first visit later this year.

Its about 10 years since I went to Beamish, I would like to return to what it is like now. I thoroughly enjoyed the day. very interesting to see how we have moved forwards ( or backwards) since then. June xx

yeah, but not in about 20 yrs, even though it's not a major distance from where I live.

Andy you most go again and tell us all the new stuff.

i went there years ago and loved it...the shops with all the orignal boxes and tins, etc...the garden with the bandstand...i wanna go again lol

Margaret, there's a small museum in Saltburn, where I live called the Smugglers Experience. It's been there for years but I've never visited because...well you always know it's there, so you never get round to visiting it, if that makes any sense. I could also probably count on my hand the number of times I've walked along the beach here, in the last couple of years.

I *love* Beamish. Went there some years ago and enjoyed it all. History in action! :) Joy

www.beamish. org. uk

Will be adding this to my list of places to visit when I get round to coming up north! Daisy

Margaret You have brought back memories of a brilliant day. We went some years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I often think that I would like to go back but, as you say, you do need a full day. We stayed overnight at scotch corner so that we would have plenty of time. Think I'll suggest it again to Hubby. Chrissie p.s. We went to the Black Country Museum too, which is similar. Which one is it that has the canal, where you go on a boat and when you get to the tunnel you have to lie down and move your feet along the wall because it is so narrow?

I love these places. There's also Blists Hill near Ironbridge and Morwellham Quay in Devon. Weve recognised the Black Country museum on some of the costume dramas on TV too. Chrissie, it's the Black Country musum where you 'walk' the barge through the tunnel. Heather

Chrissie that is The Black Country Museum. Although I have not been there since they did the canal trip. But I have been told all about it. I have been to both and I must be honest and say that I think it is a little bit better than Beamish. Dont get me wrong. Beamish is fantastic. Would definatley go again. Jenny.

Thanks Heather and Jenny. Sorry I've been a while replying - just had my Clara hat on :)))) I have to agree Jenny. Wev'e been to Blists as well etc but now I think about it, it was The Black Country Museum that I enjoyed the very best. Must try that again too. Chrissie x

Andy know Saltburn well.Used to go a lot when we lived oop North.Fished on the pier many a time as a kid.Even though I have been back a few times in recent years I havnt been to the smugglers experience either.It looked a bit small.I couldnt imagine it having much inside so didnt bother.Is the train in the Italian gardens still running.They were doing quite a bit to the front when I was there in 2000 must be finished by now.

Margaret, yep they finished the work down there. The pier was closed for some time, while they did structural work on it. The little railway still runs, they've altered it slightly and it's runs along the other side of the beck now.

Hi Margaret, Yep, I've been a couple of times, though not recently, as we live in the South. It's a brilliant day out. Another similar projuect is Iron Bridge near Telford. Very similar sort of thing - working museum. www.ironbridge.org.uk/ Debbie