Beamish

Mike and I took his sister, Helen, to Beamish for the day.  What a day!  We travelled by vintage bus, tram and trolley bus, as well as walking for several miles, and we still didn't manage to see everything!

One of the highlights for us was the pit village, complete with miners cottages, outside privvies, productive gardens, little back yard sheds and pit ponies.  In one of the sheds was a treadle lathe with a half finished model railway wheel on it.   All very realistic, as if someone had just left off before going in for his tea.

The whole experience was fascinating.  We could have spent several days wandering round!  Everywhere you looked there were interesting things to see, some that brought back memories, others that were very old!  The garage and the old kitchens were wonderfully authentic.

All the "helpers"/guides were all in character.  We spoke to a young lad who had been taken on as an apprentice for 12-18 months to learn to work with the horses and pit ponies.  Such a lot of folk work there and they are all full of information and knowledge of their areas.  A great place to visit. 

After taking Helen back home, it was back up the A1 to Rothbury for the last few days of our busy holiday!