Beamish takes a shot at giving visitors a look at the past with new photographic studio

The Besterfield family from Sunderland, Jackie, Libby, Mike and Nat one of the first to have the "Victorian" photograph taken in the new photography studio at Beamish Museum.

Beamish Museum has launched a photographers’ studio and chemist in its 1900’s town.

The new shop was officially opened by Darren Henley, chief executive of the Arts Council England, which helped back the project.

The new photographers' studio at Beamish Museum.

Visitors can have their pictures taken in Edwardian costume in the photography studio of JR & D Edis.

At W Smith’s chemist they can try flavoured aerated waters, such as sarsaparilla, blood tonic and kola, help to prepare medicines, and discover miraculous “cure-alls.”

The corner building was constructed mainly by the museum’s own buildings team and is based on a property on Elvet Bridge in Durham.

The businesses are named after chemist William Smith and photographers John Reed Edis and his daughter Daisy, who worked in the city.

Darren Henley (left) Chief Executive Arts Council England with Beamish Museum Director Richard Evans outside the latests edition to the museum, a chemist and photographers, which was officially opened on Friday.

Mr Henley said: “Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, is constantly evolving in its mission to give visitors first-hand experience at how life was in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

“In some ways a site like this is never finished – as evidenced by the opening of the chemist and photographers’ shop today – and I look forward to seeing how future developments planned for the site are realised.”

Richard Evans, Beamish’s director, said: “We hope as many people as possible will come to the museum this year to enjoy the chemist and photographers’ – and experience a really fascinating part of our heritage being brought to back life.”

For more details visit www.beamish.org.uk.