In a disused army camp in Co. Durham a collection of more than 10,000 items which reflect life as it was lived in the North-East in the last two centuries, from a complete colliery to a miner's kettle on the hob, await reassembly into working units in one of the most exciting new museums in Britain. Frank Atkinson, Director of the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, describes the doubts and difficulties to be overcome in creating a living museum of this kind.