Come along and visit Beamish Museum during February Half Term (18th to 26th February) to investigate crimes of the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s as we prepare to open our 1950s police houses later this year!
During the Crimes of the Centuries event, discover the story of renowned Georgian quilter Joseph Hedley who was murdered in 1826 in an appalling crime that shocked the nation, and learn about crime and punishment in the Georgian period.
Find out about the actions of some of the North East’s Suffragettes in The 1900s Town and visit the Masonic Hall to hear stories of a Sunderland bank robbery which took place in 1897.
Visit The 1900s Pit Village to find out what happened to those who played truant and, in the back lane of Francis Street, learn about illegal games of pitch and toss.
Head to The 1940s Farm to find out about the secrets of the black market during World War Two.
There have been reports of sheep rustling at Spain’s Field Farm – can you help the farmer and the policeman find the lost sheep? (Spain’s Field Farm open weekends only).
Practise your lock picking skills in The 1950s Town. In the 1950s welfare hall, see some of the fascinating policing objects the museum has in its collection and discover the planned room layouts for Beamish’s 1950s police houses and office, which are due to open later this year.
Plus, take part in the museum’s fun family activity trail and solve The Mystery of the Sleepy Salesman.
Connor Emerson, Keeper of Social History at Beamish Museum, said: “We’re very excited to invite everyone to come and get involved in looking at crime and punishment across the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s and 1950s during our Crimes of the Centuries event this February Half Term.
“Each area of the museum will be concentrating on the types of crimes and punishments of the times they portray, there will be lots to discover and plenty of activities to try your hand at during this week-long event”.
Beamish Museum is replicating a pair of police houses from Heworth, in Gateshead, and their associated single-storey office, which will open later this year. Visitors to the police houses will be able to experience the daily routine of a police officer in the 1950s. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the Remaking Beamish project was awarded £10.9million by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2016.