bellingham heritage centre

step into the heritage of the North Tyne & Rede Valleys

The Heritage Centre tells the stories of the people of the North Tyne and Rede valleys through text, imagery, sound and, of course, objects. The displays present the social, agricultural and industrial history of the area as well as a small section about the earlier Border Reivers.

Opened in 1994 in a former garage on the main street in the village, the centre then renovated a redundant depot in Station Yard in 2000. Funding in 2008 allowed the extension of the centre to incorporate the Stannersburn Smithy and a new farming gallery. In 2011 a grant from the Heritage Lottery helped the centre buy two historic railway carriages which volunteers restored and fitted out as a tea room and a flexible learning space. Relying entirely on volunteers to run the Centre, admissions, sales, donations and bequests help to preserve local heritage and share it with visitors.

Families with children are especially welcome at the Heritage Centre, as well as exploring the displays, where some items can be handled, children can ride the toy tractor, check out the coal mine tunnel, dial up recordings by local people in the old red phone box, use the 'Chatterboxes' to hear memories or music, do quizzes and trails, play in the old school 'room', or try out a Reiver's helmet for size.

The history of this ruggedly beautiful and historic place is captured in five permanent displays covering farming (including a reconstruction of the Stannersburn blacksmith's workshop), mining, the Border Counties Railway, the Border Reivers, and the photography of W P Collier. Changing seasonal exhibitions mean there is always something new to come back for.