Have you visited our new 1950s Coronation Park and Recreation Ground yet? Named in honour of The Queen, it includes a 1950s-style playground, miniature golf course, sandpit, giant draughts board, football area and, opening at a later date, a bowling green and pavilion.
Situated next to the 1950s welfare hall, the park is the perfect outdoor space for the young and young at heart, and helps to tell the story of the developing new estates during the 1950s.
The park includes modern reproductions of 1950s favourites such as the witch’s hat, roundabout, sandpit, slide, swings and horse rocker.
Visitors can have a go at the miniature golf course, with holes inspired by North East landmarks and stories such as the Tyne Bridge, Lambton Worm, High and Low Force and Sycamore Gap. A giant draughts board from Riverside Park, in Chester-le-Street, has been recreated with the help of an archive image.
Beamish has worked with Durham Amateur Football Trust to develop the football area, which celebrates the golden age of amateur football in the 1950s.
Plus, be sure to also pop over to our recently-opened 1950s Front Street terrace. Get your hair done (50s style!) in Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s, discover the story of North East artist Norman Cornish in No. 2 Front Street, buy delicious fish and chips in Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips and follow this with tasty sweet treats (including homemade ice cream!) from John’s Café.
You can also visit Spain's Field Farm and see what life was like for families living in the upland farms during the 1950s. The farm, located between The 1900s Pit Village and The 1900s Town, is open on weekends initially to allow for the continuing construction work on our 1950s Town.
Our latest exhibits are part of the Remaking Beamish project, which includes The 1950s Town, 1950s Spain’s Field Farm, transport developments and expansion of The 1820s Landscape. Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project was awarded £10.9million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2016.
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