A project at Beamish which saw Home Farm change to the 1940s Farm has been shortlisted for an award.
Now digging for victory and monitoring its rations, the farm has given Beamish the chance to experience rural life in the North East during the Second World War.
This change has seen the project shortlisted for the North East Museum Award at the Journal Culture Awards this year.
From 1939 to 1945 men went to fight in the war, but life on the Home Front changed dramatically too and this is what we show at the farm, including rationing, “grow your own”, the Home Guard and the blackout.
The farmhouse and the outside of the farm were transformed from Victorian times to the Second World War period and Orchard and Garden Cottages were renovated to tell the story of Land Girls and evacuees.
The 1940s Farm opened on 15th February 2014 and was followed by a week of activities and a celebration of community projects.
Seb Littlewood, our Head of Rural Life, said: “We’re very excited to be shortlisted for the Journal Culture Awards. The change from Home Farm to the 1940s Farm has proven very popular with our visitors, they enjoy finding out about life on the farm during the Second World War as we share this very important North East story.”
Also nominated in this category is Stand up for Woodhorn and Wor Life: Home of Heroes (South Tyneside in the 1st World War) and Screaming Steel: Art War and Trauma 1914-1918.
The awards ceremony will take place at Sunderland Minster on Tuesday, 30th June. Now in their ninth year the awards recognise the region’s cultural success across 15 categories.