Men and women dressed in Edwardian clothing chat on a cobbled street as a tram trundles past – while an advert for Fry’s chocolates on a nearby wall tempts them with confection.
Evoking memories of Christmas past, this is the scene that greets visitors at a museum which has recreated yuletide as it would have been in the early 1900s.
With wonderful attention to detail, it has all been magically brought to life at Beamish Open-Air Museum in County Durham.
With its wet cobblestones and nostalgic backdrops, this is the festive Edwardian scene that greets visitors at Beamish Open-Air Museum in County Durham
The advert for Binns refers to a chain of department stores in Sunderland later bought by the House of Fraser. The Co-Op in the background relates to the nearby village of Anfield Plain, which had a strong association with coal mining
A woman warms herself by a coal fire in the bleak mid-winter of Beamish. Visitors to the museum can explore the town and see how families lived in the years leading up to the First World War
Among the sights, an authentic silver band can be seen playing festive favourites – in front of the essential roaring fire
Come see the wares – including Stephens’ Ink, which was registered in 1832. Purchasers of the day could choose from ‘patent writing fluids’ with glorious names such as Carbonaceous Black and Brilliant Red
A festive storefront at the museum. The references to CWS – in the shop window and on the boot polish advert – refer to the Co-operative Wholesale Society. Pelaw is a district that forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, north-east England – and the shoe polish was named after the area
Paul Foster, Historic Events Officer at Beamish Museum, said: ‘Christmas at Beamish gives visitors an amazing opportunity to travel back in time and discover Christmas past, experiencing the traditional sights, sounds, smells and delicious tastes of festive celebrations in the 1820s, 1910s and 1940s’
Set against the backdrop of vintage electric trams and buses, it gives people the chance to explore the town and see how families lived in the years leading up to the First World War.
Among the sights, an authentic silver band can be seen playing festive favourites while traditionally dressed women bake mince pies and shortbread in the shape of delicious Christmas trees.
Paul Foster, Historic Events Officer at Beamish Museum, said: ‘Christmas at Beamish gives visitors an amazing opportunity to travel back in time and discover Christmas past, experiencing the traditional sights, sounds, smells and delicious tastes of festive celebrations in the 1820s, 1910s and 1940s.
‘Visitors can enjoy festive food, be entertained by music and song, explore the beautifully decorated homes and shops, browse the stalls at the Christmas Bazaar in The Town park, meet Father Christmas and his reindeer and take a spin on the real ice rink at the Winter Fun Fair, as a traditional Christmas comes to life.’
Visitors over Christmas can also enjoy festive food and explore the beautifully decorated homes
At Herron’s Bakery, you can watch delicious bread, cakes and biscuits being make using traditional Edwardian recipes – and even take a freshly-baked treat home
A vintage electric tram trundles along. Most of the tram networks across Britain had closed by the early 1960s
As well as enjoying festive night scenes, visitors can browse the stalls at the Christmas Bazaar in The Town park
Other delights on offer include a trip to the Sun Inn for a pint or snack; the Printer, Stationer and Newspaper Branch Office; or perhaps the sweet shop