Culture day at Head of Steam Railway Museum

In the interests of local culture we visited the Head of Steam Railway Museum in Darlington today. It was an interesting and educational experience... if I'm honest I went because they advertised an exhibition of 1950's table ware and it looked fun. Other then travelling on them, I've never been that interested in trains of any description but actually the museum turned out to be very good and there was just enough to hold my limited 'railway' attention span.

It was helped by the fact that while he museum hosts the Locomotion Number One - Stephenson first triumphant steam engine designed to carry coal quickly and cheaply - it also houses some relevant social history and artifacts giving a more personal feel to the place and extending the general interest. The museum is set in the old station building and still had the Victorian gents loos on show (complete with notice asking people NOT to use them!!) and the displays are well laid out with quite a lot of hands on things for the younger generation and of course those of us that like to be involved if possible.... . I loved all the various bits of luggage strewn around the place as well.

various aspects of museum including gents loos!!!

The 1950's tableware was great - there wasn't much I suspect it was some ones private collection loaned, but it was nicely presented and I really like the lovely simple clean lines of the drawings and shapes of the pottery.

1950's tableware

The bit I like best were the wooden dogs heads removed from a building that was being demolished in 1957, I thought they were stunning - so busy was I taking photos that I forgot to note quite which building they came from and why they were relevant to the railway museum.. I'll check that out on my next visit as I know we will have to bring our steam mad family member here next time hes up our way!!!

they are so expressive - I do need to find our more about them....

wooden dogs heads (slightly bigger then life size)

Aren't they fabulous!!! ... and yes I've just learn't how to make photo collages so I can cram even more pictures in!

All that education left us is need of cake so we drove across town to the french patisserie Robineau's where we had a taster selection of delicious scrummy french cakes and afternoon tea!!

Mid demolition...too busy eating to take pictures

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