A BAND HALL is re-opening at a North-East open air museum just over 100 years since it first opened on its original site.

The Hetton Band Hall will be officially unveiled at its new home in the The Pit Village at Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, on Saturday. The hall was once the only purpose-built band practice hall in the region and the envy of every band for miles around.

After falling into disuse and disrepair when Hetton Silver Band merged with another local band to become Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band, it seemed that the hall would be demolished and lost forever.

But Glenis Smith, Julie Carmichael and former members of Hetton Silver Band stepped in and approached Beamish. In 2010 the hall was recorded on its site in South Market Street, Hetton-le-Hole, before it was moved brick-by-brick to Beamish, where it was rebuilt and restore to its former glory.

Ms Smith said: “We never thought it would happen but our dreams have come true and we’ll always have somewhere to go and see it.”

The official opening will begin with a parade from the Resource Centre to the band hall at 11.30am, led by the Durham Miners’ Association Brass Band, including former members of Hetton Silver Band.

A Colliery Carnival Day, with a host of activities, will be held on Saturday and Sunday.

Meanwhile, Beamish Museum is celebrating after winning the backing of Arts Council England for a world-class arts project worth up to £1.5m over the next three years in east Durham.

The initiative is led by a partnership including Beamish Museum, East Durham Trust and the London-based arts company Forma Arts and Media.

Beamish director Richard Evans said: “This is fantastic news. “The funding will boost the local economy and help more people enjoy great art, making east Durham an even better place to live and work.

“The area is already well known for its coal mining history – now we want to help it become world famous for the quality of its arts and culture.

He added: “We now start a six-month process of detailed planning and I would like to encourage as many people as possible to take part and share their ideas by contacting us through our website www.eastdurhamcreates.co.uk.”