Heritage craftsmanship is thriving at New College Durham thanks to an inspiring collaboration with the world-famous Beamish Museum.
Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery students have designed and created 12 replacement windows for the museum’s historic station signal box, helping to preserve an important part of North East heritage for future generations.
The project gave students invaluable real-world experience, from measuring original frames and producing cutting lists, to machining timber, shaping profiles and assembling the finished windows before installation at Beamish.
The collaboration highlights the strength of New College Durham’s construction curriculum, where students develop industry-standard skills through live employer and community projects.
Dave Hutchinson, Lecturer in Carpentry & Joinery, New College Durham said:
“This project has been a fantastic opportunity for our students to apply their skills to a real-life restoration project that is deeply connected to the heritage of our region. Working with Beamish Museum has allowed them to experience the standards, teamwork and pride required within the construction industry while contributing to something of national importance.”
Jonathan Kindleysides, Head of Industry at Beamish Museum, said:
“Beamish Museum is proud to work with New College Durham on projects that help preserve the North East’s heritage while supporting the next generation of skilled craftspeople. The quality of work produced by the students has been outstanding and this partnership demonstrates how education and heritage organisations can work together for the benefit of the wider community.”
With more than 800,000 visitors annually, Beamish Museum remains one of the North East’s most important tourism attractions and a nationally recognised educational resource celebrating the region’s industrial and social history.
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.