1950s Town
Pay once
visit Free
all year
Exhibits
The Grand Cinema
The Grand cinema, from Ryhope, in Sunderland, has been recreated and brought to life, screening films, period newsreels and adverts.
The Grand was hugely popular in its heyday in the 1950s, often selling out its seats.
The main auditorium includes a stage, screen, pit benches and the more expensive upholstered seats. Visitors are able to take a look behind the scenes at the projection room and learn about the skilled role of the projectionist.
A Reece Ltd, Radio and Electrical Services
Experience the excitement of a 1950s electrical shop and discover the latest in modern technology…
The electric and repair shop shares the story of the increase in domestic electrical appliances in the 1950s and the changes in technology over the decade.
Browse the latest in electrical goods, including 1950s televisions, radios, stand mixers, fridges, hairdryers and Dansette record players in the showroom.
Don’t forget to call into the record shop upstairs. Browse the records, record players and televisions and stand in the record booth and select a record to listen to on the station, will it be the Everly Brothers, Elvis Presley or Connie Francis?
Welfare Hall
Experience the excitement and community spirit of the 1950s in our 1950s welfare hall, the first building to open as part of our 1950s Town. The hall is a replica of the Leasingthorne Colliery Welfare Hall and Community Centre, built near Bishop Auckland in 1957. Visitors can enjoy activities in the main hall, and find out about the story of the NHS and baby clinics in the exhibit.
The hall also features Changing Places facilities, including a wash and dry toilet, hoist, changing bench and adjustable basin.
Bowling Green and Pavilion
A bowling green has been replicated at Beamish, to help tell the story of leisure pursuits and community life in the 1950s.
The replica of Billingham Bowling Green from John Whitehead Park has been built as part of the park in The 1950s Town.
Bowls was, and often still is, a popular pastime, and was especially popular for both men and women during the 1950s.
Police Houses
A pair of police houses from Heworth, Gateshead, and their associated single-storey office, has been replicated at Beamish.
Visitors to the police houses will be able to see the differences in domestic life between a sergeant and a constable. Visitors will also be able to experience the daily routine of an officer, help to patrol his beat and call in any suspicious activity from the public telephone, and even respond to crimes around the town.
Semi-detached Houses
As part of The 1950s Town, we have replicated a pair of semi-detached houses from Red House in Sunderland.
Visitors to the semi-detached council houses will be able to learn about the expansion of housing in the 1950s and what life on a new housing estate was like.
45 Rochdale Road
The Remaking Beamish Team worked closely with Esther and her daughters, Linda and Brenda, gathering memories of their time living in the house.
47 Rochdale Road
In the second of the semi-detached houses, we’ll be telling the story of Polish migration to the North East in the 1950s.
Visitors can look the part by getting a 1950s hairstyle in Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s, and take their photo under dryers from Beamish’s collection. Elizabeth’s is based on an end-terrace shop from Bow Street in Middlesbrough.
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.
*Please note, the lifts in our 1950s Town are currently out of service, with the exception of the platform lift in our 1950s cinema. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Accessible toilets (right hand transfer) and baby changing facilities are available in John’s Café.
Accessible toilets (right hand and left hand transfer), Changing Places Facilities and baby changing and feeding facilities are available within the 1950s welfare hall.
Our 1950s welfare hall features Changing Places facilities, including a wash and dry toilet, hoist, changing bench and adjustable basin. Changing Places are enhanced disabled toilet facilities for people with severe disabilities.
Our facilities include a wash and dry toilet, overhead room coverage hoist system, height adjustable changing bench, height adjustable basin, shower and a privacy screen.
A radar key is required to access these facilities.
For health and safety reasons we do not provide slings. Visitors are asked to bring their own which should be compatible with the loop system.
Front Street terrace has a tarmac road and a level flagstone path with dropped kerbs. There are cobbles at the edge of the town but these can be avoided by using the paths and dropped kerbs.
Front Street terrace has a tarmac road and a level flagstone path with dropped kerbs. TherLevel entrance into the hairdresser’s. e are cobbles at the edge of the town but these can be avoided by using the paths and dropped kerbs.
Level entrance into No. 2 Front Street. There is a lift available for those wishing to visit the first floor and the accessible art space.
Level access into the café, accessible booths available.
Level access into and out of fish and chip shop. High counter.
A slightly sloping footpath surrounds the exhibit and there are accessible ramps at all entrances. There is level access throughout the 1950s welfare hall with the exception of the stage which has access via steps. There is a dedicated baby changing and feeding room available for use. Please ask a member of staff for assistance.
Access to Coronation Park is via a slightly sloped path from the 1950s welfare hall. Coronation Park includes an accessible swing seat and a wheelchair friendly roundabout.
There is level access into the bowling pavilion. A permanent ramp is in position to allow access onto the bowling green.
There is level entry into the semi-detached houses. Small rooms and furniture throughout the semi-detached houses may make it difficult to turn and manoeuvre mobility scooters. A lift is available for those wishing to visit the first floor. The lift door is not automatic, for those who need assistance opening the door, a bell is positioned next to the handle, this will alert a member of staff who will be able to assist.
The front entrance of the police houses is accessible via a short ramp. The rear entrance of the police houses is accessible with dropped kerbs and a flagstone footpath with a slight incline. The rear of the police houses have outbuildings which can make it difficult for mobility scooters to turn.
Upcoming events
Festival of Transport 2026
Join us for a Festival of Transport as part of May Half Term!
- Saturday, 23rd – Sunday, 31st May 2026
Georgian Gathering
Step back to the hustle and bustle of the early 1800s as Pockerley Old Hall, the Waggonway and St Helen’s Church come alive with Georgian entertainment and a whole host of traditional crafts and activities.
- Saturday, 19th – Sunday, 20th September 2026
Atchin-tan and celebration of Gypsy Roma Traveller history
Atchin-tan in Romani, the language of the Romany Gypsies, means “stopping place”. Using the museum’s Bow Top living wagon and our 1950s caravan we will be recreating a stopping place at Spain’s Field Farm.
- Saturday, 12th – Sunday, 13th September 2026
