Living History

Beamish Museum

At Beamish - The Living Museum of North, you can step back into a time when the telephone was less than mobile and television was just a twinkle in a Scotsman's eye. When your living room was your bathroom and your toilet was out in the cold. The past is brought vividly to life at Beamish. 

Take your group around 300 acres of living history and meet people who lived and worked in the past. Talk to the dentist, school teacher, miners, farmers, engine drivers and pitman's wife. And relax in between with a ride on one of the splendid restored trams and replica buses. 

Beamish has so much to offer groups and is ideal for day trips or inclusion in tour itineraries. What's more, thhe great news is that there are no increases in group rates for 2011 - in fact admission charges, have been held since 2005!

Throughout the year there are special events at Beamish, enjoy The Great North Steam Fair, a Georgian Fair from the Past and Beamish Agricultural Show, all at no extra charge. Each weekend from 22nd October through to 19th February, put on some skates and take a spin on our real, out door ice rink (small charge applies). 

There are Christmas festivities too, every weekend from 19th November 2011 to 2nd January 2012 (closed Mondays, Fridays & Christmas Day). The Town, Colliery Village, Home Farm and Pockerley Old Hall take on a festive feel with period decorations from the early 1900s, there'll be traditional entertainment and Father Christmas in his cosy fireside Grotto, with a gift for every child (small charge applies). 

Beamish offer free admission for coach drivers and group travel organisers and free coach parking, along with an efficient and friendly booking service. For more information visit www.beamish.org.uk or telephone 0191 370 4026.  

Hartlepool's Maritime Experience
Don't just learn about history, live it!

Home of HMS Trincomalee, the oldest British warship afloat in the world and only 30 minutes drive from Durham City!

Have you seen the movies Master and Commander and Pirates of the Caribbean? Well we can't promise Russell Crowe or Johnny Depp, but experiencing the sights and sounds of an 18th century seaport complete with the oldest British warship afloat in the world beats the cinema hands down!

Explore the quayside with its realistic period shops and house displays with audio guides. See Admiral William Harris sitting in his study enjoying a drink, but suffering from gout, the young boys' busy working in the printers and visit the Chandlers which was the supermarket of its day. Another merchant is the Swordsmith which is the premises of Jeremiah Vendon and Son, 'Sword Smith to the Prince of Persia and the Duke of York'.

Come and meet our costumed guides, in the guise of sailors, marines and wenches. They can answer any questions you have. 

Do you know where the terms 'flash in the pan', 'lock stock and barrel' and 'going off at half cocked' come from? Find out these and more from our guides who, during our weaponry displays will talk you through how they load the musket, pistol and cannon and proceed to fire a cartridge and a 'cannon ball' over the water at a rate of 400 mph. Be warned, it's very loud!

There is so much here to fill you day. In addition to HMS Trincomalee we present Fighting Ships, our audio-visual tour of a warship. Allow the young powder monkey Jim Henshaw to guide you between decks where you will learn all about how hard life was for the men and boys on board. Will our ship be the victor or succumb to the cannons of the enemy? Pressganged is our short film presentation which tells the tale of two brothers who are forced into the navy. 

There much more to Hartlepool's Maritime Experience and not enough room here to list everything. Visit our websites for more information. However long your stay in Hartlepool, one hour or all day, we can suggest an itinerary for your group. Access is good around the quayside and there is a lift on board HMS Trincomalee. 

These are just a few of the benefits of booking a group visit with us - 

• Travel trade and group discounts
• Free information leaflets for your passengers
• Free coach parking on site
• Good disabled access, toilets, coffee shops and gift shops
• Guided tours by prior arrangement
• Free admission for drivers and organisers
• Free refreshment voucher for drivers
• Free entry to the Museum of Hartlepool and coffee shop on board paddle steam ship Wingfield Castle

The Heugh Battery Museum

The Heugh Battery Museum is situated on the Headland in Hartlepool. The local area boasts seaside walks and expansive beaches and a host of wildlife on the seashore and large open grassed areas. The Museum itself is adjacent to the Lighthouse and both are well signposted. Car parking is free and with easy walking distance of the Museum. 

The Museum itself is famous for the role which it played during the Bombardment of Hartlepool in 1914 and is the only First World War battlefield in the country. As a former coastal fortification it now holds one of the foremost collections of Artillery in the country, and certainly the biggest in the North of England. The displays extend to the underground Galleries which are said to be haunted. 

The Battery has regular displays from the Hart Marines period 1805; we also have costumed interpreters on site most weekends in 1914 period dress. On request we can usually WW2. Also a Battlefield/Fort/Battery comes alive when the staff engages with the public and demonstrate exhibits on view. 

The Museums facilities include a visitor centre, with retails area, toilets, licensed bar and coffee shop. The site also has a large picnic area which can hold over thirty people. Our volunteers and staff encourage questions and interaction with visitors of all ages. Guided tours of the site are free and coach parties are admitted at just £2 per head. Coach drivers have free admittance and a free soft drink. 

Killope Lead Mining Museum

Killhope is a multi award winning Victorian Mining Museum where you can learn and live the life of North Pennine Lead Miners and their families, and offers a grand day out for all!

Equipped with mine hat, cap lamp and Wellies, accompany one of our guide on an unforgettable tour of Park Level Mine, first started in 1853. Our enthusiastic team will ensure you have a day to remember. You can find your own minerals as you work as a washerboy. Discover how they lived during the week, what they ate and how they spent their time in the lodging room; search the Victorian style clothes and clogs, games and past times. Living history interpreted by friendly, knowledge staff. 

A total of 4 working water wheels on site. Exhibitions include the National Spar Boxes Collection, Magnificent Minerals and The Pennine Jewels, which are collections of minerals found in the North Pennines an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', which ever you come to Killhope the scenery is breathtaking. 

Walk the woodland trails to see our red squirrels and an array of other wildlife. Visit Killhope shop and cafe to complete a great day out. Killhope is a gold standard Green Tourism destination as well as a 'Quality Assured Visitor Attraction' with an array of regional and national awards. 

Locomotion NMR, Shildon

Explore the world of railways and live steam at Locomotion. Take a ride on the museum's passenger steam train service (available selected dates only), or enjoy one of the any railway themed special events at Locomotion throughout the year. Events may feature guest vehicles, live demonstrations, footplate access and steam rides (available during selected events only).

You can also witness the live restoration and preservation of railway vehicles from the National Collection in action, from the viewing platform overlooking the museum's conservation workshop.