Sunderland family win 1950s Beamish house replica competition

Esther and Linda outside the winning house in Sunderland.

A family from Sunderland have been chosen to have their home replicated at Beamish Museum as part of a new '1950s Town' display.

Esther Gibbon, 92, and her daughter Linda Gilmore won a public vote to have their semi-detached home rebuilt at the museum - beating nine finalists from across the North East.

The family have lived in Esther's home in Red House since it was built in 1952. They will now have the opportunity to stay in the completed replica when it opens.

Linda, who describes the house as a "centre of happiness and love", was ecstatic to find out that her childhood house will be built brick-by-brick at the open air museum.

Beamish say they will work with the family to explore what life was like in their community in the 1950s.

Competition winner Esther with three generations of her family.

The Remaking Beamish project includes plans for a 1950s Town, upland farm and Georgian coaching inn.

The museum has received a £10.7 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the initial stage of the project.