What Kate-Em did next.

Monday, 19 December 2016

Newest additions to the 1900's town at Beamish

It has been a bit of a while since I last wrote; I don't know what happened to the last couple of months! Apologies. I have an awful lot to catch up on so I thought I would make a start with a recent visit to one of my favourite places - Beamish. You can read more about a previous Beamish visit here.

Beamish is an open air living history museum in the North of England. The site is divided into a few main areas: the 1900's town, the 1940's farm, the 1900's pit village and colliery and the 1820's farm and manor house. Each one gives you a flavour of what life would have been like at the time in those places. Transport between the areas is on vintage trams and buses and you can spend quite a happy time just travelling around the site on these.

Picture heavy post coming up!

One of the trams

Most of the buildings at Beamish have been collected from other towns and villages over the years and have been rebuilt here to save them from demolition or dereliction. They are literally moved stone by numbered stone and rebuilt as they were. The interiors may come from those buildings or may be an amalgamation of period finds from other places.

As they acquire buildings and funding the site is added to. A 1950's town is planned which is an addition that I am really excited about.

Part of the main street in the 1900's town

The other side of the street

The bank

I love going to Beamish and this visit was planned so that we could visit the two newest businesses in the 1900's town, W Smith's chemist and JR and D Edis photographers.

The chemist's shop was fascinating, I spent quite some time just looking at all the packaging of the various lotions and potions. The chemist told us that at the time the drug industry was pretty unregulated so there could be all sorts in the remedies including lead, cocaine and arsenic. Obviously many of the remedies were next to useless and some were downright harmful.

The chemist's interior was dominated by rows and rows of labelled drawers, I would love a set of them for my house. Imagine how many treasures you could store in those! If you happened to watch the TV series Dark Angel recently then you will have seen the chemist as several scenes were filmed at Beamish.

It is worth getting chatting with the members of staff as they are dressed up in character and have so much knowledge about the period and the businesses that they work in. I think you get a much more immersive experience if you have these conversations and they really don't mind how random your questions are!

The chemist also sold spectacles, here is one of the displays.

Now to the photographers.

Whilst we were visiting the town was showing the experiences of the First World War and the photographers was busy taking portraits of soldiers in their uniform, to leave with their families, and also portraits of families for the soldiers to take with them.

Wedding photos were popular too of course!

This is the interior of the photographer's studio were the portraits are taken and various backdrops, props and costumes could be utilised.

The photographer's dark room was next to the studio and was the place were all the chemicals needed to develop the photographic plates were stored and used. You can see photographs hanging up to dry on the back wall.

On the wall outside the two shops were lots of advertising signs and information posters.

More from Beamish coming soon. Have you been? Would you like to visit?

Monday, 19 September 2016

A beautiful bungalow

As it has been another hot day today, reminiscent of late July weather, and as it isn't officially Autumn until later this week, I thought that right now is the last chance to talk about my summer holiday. I shared some snapshots of the Isle of Wight here and I now want to show some pictures of where I stayed.

I booked a bungalow on a 1960's built small holiday park through Vintage Vacations. It is located about 20 minutes walk outside Ventnor. I can't see the bungalow on their website at the moment, I hope that doesn't mean that they no longer own it. Vintage Vacations own several holiday properties on the island, all of which look interesting, and they have a field of Airstream caravans (which might need to be another holiday!).

The bungalow doesn't look like all that much from the outside, but inside it is decorated in a blend of vintage/retro/secondhand/granny chic splendour. I just loved it! I somehow neglected to photograph the bathroom or the third bedroom but here are all the best bits!

You enter straight into the lounge.

The sofas are covered in a patchwork of old fabrics and are so very comfortable.

This is on the other side of the front door.

Retro phone!

Cosy spot and a place to eat.

Pretty little details.

Looking through to the kitchen.

Fantastic 1950's style kitchen units. I think one was original and the others reproduction.

Wall cabinet in the kitchen.

Cabinet details.

In the main bedroom.

Great curtains.

Dressing table companion!

The second bedroom.

More great fabrics.

Patchwork runner close up.

Very smart dressing table!

Decorative touches.

The outside. A little shabby around the edges and not much hint of the fabulousness within! Happy memories! It was a really super holiday home.

Monday, 22 August 2016

Postcards from the Isle of Wight

Last month I spent 12 glorious (literally, it was hot and sunny) days on the Isle of Wight. It was my first visit and one that I was really looking forward to as it has been on my places to visit wishlist for quite some time. The Isle of Wight did not disappoint, I really loved it and want to go back to see the rest of what the island has to offer.

I'm going to talk about our accommodation in a separate post as it was that super so here I thought I would share some of my snapshots of the island.

There is a marvellous mix of seaside, beautiful countryside, historical locations, walks, relaxing spots and ice cream. Really, the best ice cream ever!

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen some other views.