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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Nicole Goodwin

Beamish Museum 1950s town opens in time for February half term - with official opening streamed live on Facebook

Beamish Museum's 1950s terrace opening date has arrived, with a week of celebrations to commemorate the much-anticipated occasion.

The latest addition to the living museum, Front Street terrace, features a café, fish and chip shop, hairdresser's, and a recreation of the 1950s home of North East artist Norman Cornish.

Visitors will be able to enjoy an ice cream sundae while listening to the jukebox at John’s Café, a recreation of the popular café from Wingate, County Durham.

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They will be able to get a 1950s hairdo and pose for photos under the dryers at Elizabeth’s, which is in a recreation of an end-terrace shop from Bow Street in Middlesbrough.

Fish and chips will be served at Middleton's, which recreates a fish and chip shop from Middleton St George, near Darlington.

Visitors can also try their hand at sketching in No. 2 Front Street, a recreation of Norman Cornish's Spennymoor home and discover more about the Spennymoor Settlement.

An official unveiling of the terrace will be live-streamed on 18th February on the museum's Facebook page.

Viewers will be the first to view the 1950s terrace with an exclusive online-only event as the museum is not open this day.

The museum will then commence a week of opening celebrations from 19th to 27th February - just in time for February half term.

And families can also enjoy ice skating after the museum extended the dates of its pop-up ice rink from February 19-27.

The rink did not make its usual annual appearance in the museum grounds at Christmas but instead has made a comeback this January where it is now open at weekends.

The terrace in The 1950s Town is part of the Remaking Beamish project, which also includes 1950s Spain's Field Farm and an expansion of the Georgian landscape, including early industry and overnight accommodation.

All visitors will need to pre-book an entry time slot to visit the museum – time slots from February 19 to March 27 are available to book online now.

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