Rowley Station, the first relocated attraction to open at Beamish Museum, is marking its 50th anniversary this July. Originally built in Rowley near Consett, County Durham, in 1867, the Edwardian-style station was moved to Beamish and opened to the public in 1976 by poet laureate Sir John Betjeman. It never had gas or electricity, relying on oil lighting.
Celebration event planned
A special event called '50 Years of Rowley Station' will take place on July 25-26, 2026, featuring music, decorations, and poetry. The station had been closed since the pandemic but briefly reopened for steam train rides during a Festival of Transport last spring. This anniversary event offers a rare opportunity for visitors to experience the historic station.
Beamish's summer programme
Beamish Museum, which allows visitors to 'travel through time every day', is also running its 'Step Into Stories' summer programme from July 18 to August 31. It includes six adventures, such as a Time-Travelling Transport trail exploring various modes of transport. Daytime events are included in admission, and free for Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members.
According to a Beamish Museum spokesperson, the site offers families a chance to discover life in the 1820s, early 1900s, 1940s, and 1950s, with 'unforgettable sights, sounds, smells and delicious tastes of the past'.
