For immediate release
New College Durham (NCD) students are helping to keep North East history alive after successfully restoring a historic livestock trailer for Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.
Students from the college's Level 2 Site Carpentry programme have completed the extensive refurbishment of a traditional farm trailer that had fallen into such a poor state of repair it could no longer be used by the museum's farming team.
The project began following discussions between Carpentry Lecturer at NCD, Dave Hutchinson and Beamish Museum staff, who identified the trailer as an ideal real-world restoration project for students to undertake as part of their studies.
Rather than carrying out the work on-site, the trailer was transported to NCD, where students were able to apply their technical skills within the college's specialist construction workshops.
Dave Hutchinson said:
"This project has been an outstanding experience for our students. Working on a genuine heritage restoration rather than a simulated workshop exercise gave them the opportunity to apply their skills in a meaningful and highly professional setting. They demonstrated tremendous attention to detail, craftsmanship and pride throughout the project. Most importantly, they know that their work will continue to be seen and used by visitors to Beamish for years to come.
"Our partnership with Beamish Museum has gone from strength to strength and this is now the second major project our carpentry students have completed in support of the museum. The relationship has been hugely beneficial for everyone involved, but particularly for the students, who feel they have made a real contribution towards preserving the heritage of the North East. New College Durham believes education plays a huge role in the preservation of cultural heritage. Whether that is developing the practical skills and knowledge to conserve and refurbish, or on the wider scale of developing the understanding as to why we should look after our heritage while looking forward to our future. With this in mind we are already looking forward to returning to the museum in September to begin surveying future restoration projects."
Working to professional standards, students undertook a detailed survey of the trailer, recording measurements and timber profiles before carefully dismantling the structure. The original timber components, were removed, while the metal framework was stripped back, prepared and recoated to ensure its long-term preservation.
Using hardwood supplied by Beamish Museum, students then cut, dressed and profiled replacement timbers to match the original design before meticulously rebuilding the trailer. The completed restoration has now been returned to Beamish, where it has re-entered service on the museum's working farm.
Beamish Museum is internationally recognised for preserving and bringing to life the history of North East England through its working farms, historic buildings, heritage vehicles and immersive visitor experiences. The museum welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and plays a vital role in safeguarding the region's cultural heritage.
For NCD students, the project provided a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the preservation of a much-loved regional institution while gaining invaluable practical experience.
Through collaborations such as this, New College Durham continues to provide students with authentic industry experiences that develop technical excellence, employability skills and a strong sense of civic pride, while supporting organisations that celebrate and protect the rich history of the North East.