1940s Farm
Life on the Home Front
The farmhouse and cottages of our 1940s Farm represent everyday domestic life, featuring objects from the era, ranging from a wireless (radio) to ration books. You may hear 1940s music or news broadcasts and smell cooking, using wartime rations.
Look out for the Land Girls and the Home Guard! At our 1940s Farm, you’ll discover the stories of wartime life in North East England.
Farmhouse
Pop into the cosy farmhouse, and find out about wartime family life. You may smell cooking on the Aga or range (using rations, of course), hear 1940s music and news broadcasts on the wireless, and see “make do and mend” in action.
Orchard & Garden Cottages
These old labourers’ cottages have some new tenants – a family of evacuees in Orchard Cottage and Land Girls next door in Garden Cottage.
Orchard Cottage represents the home of a family of evacuees, who have moved from a town or city to the safety of the countryside and are adjusting to rural life. Orchard Cottage also hosts activities for older people and people living with dementia, and their families and carers.
Outdoors
Farms played an important role during the war, with their vital land work helping to save the nation from starvation. In 1939, 70 per cent of Britain’s food was imported from abroad and there were fears that German submarines could create a blockade, cutting off supplies. This meant there had to be a major campaign to produce home-grown food. Look out for tractors, tools, animals, the farmer’s out-of-use car, and the pill box – ready in case of attack.
British Kitchen
Stop off for refreshments at the British Kitchen, based on the British Restaurants set up by the Government during the war. Spam sandwiches anyone? Open on select days only, please contact the museum if you require further information.
Access
To create an authentic feel, there are a variety of ground surfaces, some of which are uneven by nature. There are steep slopes in places, and some buildings and exhibits have stepped access.
Accessible toilets (right hand transfer) are located to the rear of the British Kitchen.
The 1940s Farm can be accessed via a long, sloping path with rest points. It is a short walk from the tram stop. A short, steep slope on the left or a longer sloping path to the right provide access to The 1940s Farm which is a little further up the bank.
Orchard Cottage has accessible entrances through the front and back doors. Garden Cottage has level access to the front however, there are steps within the exhibit.
Visitors must cross a main road to gain access to the farmhouse. There is an accessible path into the farm yard and the farmhouse kitchen.
