Shoppers were transported back to a 1950s caravan holiday when a part of Beamish museum was brought to Teesside.
Complete with stripey deckchairs and traditional bunting, visitors were welcomed to look around a 1950s-refurbished Wanda caravan, including through cupboards packed with pantry items from the era such as Omo washing powder and CMS Custard Powder.
There was even a game of Tiddley Winks on offer.
It was all part of a campaign by Beamish to encourage people to nominate their own homes, or their childhood homes, to be replicated in a planned 1950s town at the museum.
Beamish workers are also hoping to hear people’s memories of the decade as well as asking for help in building a collection of items to go inside the homes.
The caravan, which also visited Redcar earlier this month, was in Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, today and will be on Stockton high Street this Saturday.
Visitors were shown around by Beamish volunteers Frank and Margaret Jefferson, and learned more about the “Remaking Beamish” build plans from workers Matthew Henderson and Lisa Peacock.
The Nominate Your House project is asking people to help decide which style of 1950s semi-detached social housing should be built in its planned town.
The winning house will be decided by a public vote and the person who made the nomination will even get the chance to stay overnight in the finished exhibit as part of the opening celebrations.
Lisa said: “People have been very interested in what we’re doing. It’s about living memory so hearing people’s stories is very important to us.”
Richard Evans, Beamish’s director, said: “We’re extremely excited to be offering people this unique chance for their home to become part of history, being recreated at Beamish.
“Our 1950s town will tell the stories of the North East’s communities during an important decade of change. What better way to do this than by recreating the real homes of real people, to be shared with more than half a million visitors each year?”
Beamish has received initial support of a £10.75m Heritage Lottery Fund grant for the project.
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