In recent days a steady flow of bricks and timber roof trusses have begun to arrive at Beamish. These are the materials from the former railway stables  at Hexham, on the Newcastle to Carlisle line (opened in 1835).  The site, to the south east of the station, is being redeveloped and the stable block, used for railway horses and built by the North Eastern Railway around the turn of the last century (using bricks from the Birtley Brickworks, just down the road from us), was earmarked for demolition.  It has now, at not inconsdierable cost, been dismantled and moved to Beamish, for eventual re-erection on a site still to be decided.  The opportunity to obtain a building that fits our future plans was one not to miss, though it should be emphasised that there are no short term plans to rebuild the stables – unless somebody wants to come forward and fund it sooner!  More on this story can be found here: http://www.beamish.org.uk/the-dismantling-of-hexham-goods-stables/

Below: Here are a couple of photos of the building before dismantling began.  The site is being cleared to create a new retail park.