1900s Pit Village
See what’s cooking in the pit cottages, practise your handwriting in the school and visit the chapel.
Places to visit
Hetton Silver Band Hall
Discover the region’s proud colliery band heritage in this century-old band hall, that was rebuilt at Beamish after being donated by former band members.
Pit Pony Stables
Meet our pit ponies and discover their work down the region’s mines – the Durham coalfield had 22,000 ponies in 1913.
Sinkers’ Bait Cabin
Tuck into snacks from the Sinkers’ Bait Cabin – the sinkers were the men who sank new mine shafts and their huts acted as canteens and places to dry out.
Francis Street
The Francis Street cottages came to Beamish from Hetton-le-Hole, on Wearside, and were originally built in the early 1860s by Hetton Coal Company. Six of the original row of 27 homes were moved to the museum in 1976 and rebuilt in our 1900s Pit Village.
Explore this terrace of miners’ cottages – No.2 is the Methodist family’s home, in No.3 live a family of Irish descent, No.4 is home to a widow who lost her husband in a pit accident, and the Colliery Pay Office is at the end.
Look out for the communal bread oven in the back lane – where there may be some delicious home-made bread baking.
Davy’s Fried Fish Shop
Try our delicious fish and chips, cooked the traditional way in coal-fired ranges using beef dripping. Not to be missed!
Please note, vegetarian chips are not currently available from Davy’s Fried Fish Shop. We apologise for any inconvenience.
School
Our school building came from East Stanley, a couple of miles from the museum, and originally opened in 1892.
Practise the 3Rs in the schoolroom (watch out for the stern teacher) before trying your hand at playground games. Can you master the booler?
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.
Male, female and accessible toilets (right hand transfer) are available at Hetton Silver Band Hall.
The band hall is accessible via the path to the right of the building. There is a level access doorway to the rear of the building.
Davy’s Fried Fish Shop is accessible via a slightly sloped path which passes around the chapel. There is flat entry into the shop.
The pit pony stables are accessible via a slightly sloping path.
The band hall is accessible via the path to the right of the building. There is a level access doorway to the rear of the building.
The pit cottages are accessible via level paths and a small step to the rear. A ramp is available for access into the cottages. Please ask a member of staff if you require assistance.
There is accessible entry to the chapel via a level entrance to the rear of the building.
Accessible entry to the school is via a path around the side of the building with a level entry doorway at the rear.
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Skiffle Session & Uke Club
Join us for an afternoon of skiffle music in the 1950s welfare hall! Enjoy our own band, Hop, Skiffle and Jump, performing from 12pm until 1pm, followed by our Uke Club from 1.15pm until 2pm where you can develop your ukulele skills.
- Sunday, 29th March 2026
Folk on Sunday
Come and join The Cloth Cappers in The Band Hall in the Pit Village.
- Sunday, 5th April 2026
