Trade Catalogues
The Resource collections at Beamish include a large and nationally important collection of trade catalogues of suppliers and manufacturers.

The catalogues cover everything from kitchen ranges, decorative castings, banners, agricultural implements and tools, sports and pastimes to industrial machinery.

The earliest catalogue dates back to c.1825 though the majority of the catalogues date between 1860 and 1960. They form a comprehensive source for social history research and are available to view by appointment on weekdays with curatorial staff at Beamish.

Quilts
Beamish's collection of north country quilts is internationally known. Some 300 fine examples of the craft have been gathered together from c. 1820 up to the 1950s and represent whole cloth, strippy and patchwork and applique examples.

The quilts have been exhibited throughout Great Britain, in the USA and in Japan.

Arrangements can usually be made for specialist groups to look at a selection of quilts by appointment. The entire collection has been photographed and photos can be viewed by appointment on weekdays.

Two quilting weekends are held each year. See Special Events Programme for more details. Demonstrations of quilting can be seen, questions answered and a selection of some 20-30 quilts can be seen during these weekends.

For further details on viewing these quilts, please call the Beamish Collections Access Team on 0191 370 4000.

A new book, Quilts & Coverlets, The Beamish Collection details our vast collection of North Country Quilts. Copies are available from the Museum Gift Shop, or from our website, here.

Research
Current research projects being undertaken by Beamish at present include the following:

• Early steam railways development in the North East 1805-1825
• Early wooden waggonways in the North East Coalfields from 17th century to c.1820
• The Great Northern Coalfield
• North Country Quilts and Coverlets
• Vernacular Furniture of the North East
• The History & Development of Shorthorn Cattle
• Pre-enclosure historic landscapes of the North East
• Early regional printed images data bank
• North East Banking

Collections Online Website

Beamish has recently developed an exciting new website that highlights the Museum's outstanding collections.  For more information on the Trade Catalogues, Quilts, Photographic Library and other selected areas of the collections, click here .