Beamish, previously named 'Pit Hill', is a village in County Durham, England, situated to the north east of Stanley. The village is contained within Hell Hole Wood and is home to Beamish Museum, an open-air museum seeking to replicate a northern town of the early 20th century. Its principal public house is the Shepherd and Shepherdess, near the B…Beamish, previously named 'Pit Hill', is a village in County Durham, England, situated to the north east of Stanley. The village is contained within Hell Hole Wood and is home to Beamish Museum, an open-air museum seeking to replicate a northern town of the early 20th century. Its principal public house is the Shepherd and Shepherdess, near the Beamish Museum entrance.