New College Durham Students Help Preserve North East Heritage at Beamish Museum

Learners from the college’s Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery programme have handcrafted 12 replacement windows for the museum’s historic station signal box, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern industry skills as part of a live restoration project.

The collaboration began following discussions between New College Durham lecturer Dave Hutchinson and Beamish Museum staff, who highlighted ongoing challenges repairing the ageing signal box windows. After visiting the museum with colleagues Allen Hooker and Steve Laws, it was agreed that replacing the original timber frames would provide the most sustainable long-term solution.

Using original window frames supplied by Beamish as templates, two groups of students each took responsibility for producing six replacement windows. Learners carried out the full manufacturing process, including measuring profiles, preparing cutting lists, machining timber, shaping sections and assembling the finished frames before they were returned to the museum for installation.

The project reflects the college’s continued commitment to providing students with practical, employer-led learning opportunities within its highly regarded construction curriculum. New College Durham delivers a wide range of vocational and technical programmes designed to equip learners with the industry-ready skills demanded across the region’s growing construction sector.

“Projects like this are incredibly important because they give students the opportunity to work on something authentic, meaningful and visible within their local community. The learners have developed technical skills, confidence and professionalism throughout the process, while also contributing to the preservation of one of the North East’s most treasured heritage attractions.”

“Beamish Museum has always valued partnerships that support both heritage conservation and skills development. Working alongside New College Durham has been hugely positive and the students have produced work of an exceptionally high standard. It is fantastic to see young people developing traditional craft skills while helping preserve an important part of the region’s history.”