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Museum Details

Rural Life Centre

Image: Pavilion at the Rural Life Centre

Old Kiln Museum Trust
Reeds Road
Tilford
Farnham
GU10 2DL
Surrey
England

Collection details
Agriculture
Architecture
Archives
Costume and Textiles
Industry
Land Transport
Medicine
Personalities
Social History
Trade and Commerce
Weapons and War

Facilities

Parking: yes
Food: yes
Shop: yes
Guided tours: yes
Baby changing facilities: yes
Library: yes
Study area: yes
Wheelchair access: yes
Visual disability facilities: yes

Preserved two foot gauge light railway operates on Sundays. Our library and archive material can be made available to researchers on request.

Contact details
General information (Tel) : 01252 795571
General information (Fax) : 01252 795571
E-mail : info@rural-life.org.uk
Education officer : schools@rural-life.org.uk
Website : www.rural-life.org.uk

Open
Wed-Sun and Bank Hols 10.00-17.00 March to October
Wed & Sun only 11.00-16.00 November to March

Admission charges
Adults: £6.00
Concessions: £5:00
Children (5-16): £4.00
Family (2A + 2C): £18.00
Rustics: Free (enquire for membership details)

Description
The Rural Life Centre is a museum of country life founded in 1973 by Mr and Mrs Henry Jackson. In 1984 the administration was handed over to a charitable trust. The museum occupies ten acres of woodland and meadow and the exhibits are housed in a collection of purpose built and reconstructed historic buildings which include a prefab, village hall, cricket pavilion, chapel and schoolroom among others.

Collections description
The collection documents the changes in rural life over the period between about 1750 and 1960 in an area roughly encompaccing Surrey, east Hampshire, West Sussex and parts of Berkshire. Areas covered include all aspects of domestic and village life including agriculture, crafts and trades. Artefacts include buildings ranging from a prefab through a chapel and village hall to a corrugated iron school room.

Key artists and exhibits
Wheelwright ; George Sturt ; Blacksmith ; Ploughs ; Trapping ; Prefab ; Victorian School ; Light Railway ; Chapel ; Waggons ; Wagons

Articles
News In Brief - Week Ending September 21 2008
MGM 2008 - May Is Museums And Galleries Month 2008!
News In Brief - Week Ending May 4 2008
News In Brief - Week Ending March 8 2008
Stone Age Summer Takes Surrey By Storm

Available resources
Education programme  Digitised collection; Handling collection or artefacts; Taught session (schools); Teachers' pack or notes; Website; Worksheets or templates; Workshop or activity session (Resource)

General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Information point provided
Parking for coaches
Guided tours Collections
General guide to collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance) Disability Access
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan Children and Families
Baby changing facilities
Children's play area
Events and resources for children and families
Picnic area General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Education facilities available
Loan service
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups Schools Education
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools Facilities
Cafeteria
Facilities for private functions and events
Library
Meeting room available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Picnic area
Refreshments
Research facilities for academics
Restaurant
Shop
Study facilities Search this site

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Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

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