Beamish Museum transporting customers to 1950s with retro hair salon

'Comb-ing' soon to the Living Museum of the North, Beamish hairdresser’s have been brushing up on their 1950s hairstyles ready for the opening of Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s in their 1950s Town.

As part of the 1950s feel, the museum have created Front Street terrace, which will include a hairdresser’s in a replica of an end-terrace shop from Bow Street in Middlesbrough, as well as a vintage ice cream parlour and a fish and chip shop.

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From March, visitors to the attraction will be able to experience life like a 1950s person, coming through the door into a typical 1950s waiting area, getting your hair styled and having your photo under the row of 50s hair dryers.

Alongside the hairdresser's, Beamish won't be letting any of the education side of things go either after it announced that it will be sharing the story of 1950s hairdressing in the exhibit, including where people would have trained, as well as women’s fashion and beauty during the decade.

To make the new exhibit possible, the Remaking Beamish Team have been working with Betty and Ian Macpherson, who were the owners of the end-terrace shop they are replicating, then called Elizabeth’s Hair Fashions, for 37 years.

Here's some of the 'behind the scenes' images from Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s at Beamish:

The couple bought the salon in 1973 and, although they did not own the shop in the 1950s, their memories of the decade and Betty’s early career are helping to shape the stories Beamish tell in the exhibit.

As well as relying on the experiences of Betty and Ian, Beamish are also encouraging people who remember the 50s era to get in touch. 

If you have any memories of hairdressing during the 1950s or if you visited the Bow Street shop in Middlesbrough, Beamish would love to hear from you. Contact Natasha Anson, Remaking Beamish Project Officer by emailing natashaanson@beamish.org.uk.

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