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About Us
Madge and Henry Jackson were the founders of our museum. We celebrate this with Founders Day every year. “Looking back helps us understand. Then we can look forward sharing knowledge and inspiring new ideas”.
Our history
The Rural Life Living Museum is here thanks to Madge and Henry Jackson, an inspiring couple who started collecting items - fuelled by a desire to create a fabulous garden full of interesting ornaments and things. It started when they unearthed a horse drawn plough in woods at Waterlooville, Hampshire and with permission brought it home to use it as a garden ornament.
Realising agricultural implements used by earlier generations were being lost and destroyed they visited farm sales and local auctions determined to save these historic artefacts. Other treasured possessions such as waggons, binders and hand tools were donated. From then on Henry and Madge became avid collectors.
As their collection grew, they needed to house it, and the couple acquired a series of old buildings and barns from the local area. Today some of these heritage buildings are a valuable part of the museum collection which now includes a Chapel, a cricket pavilion, an old workshop and bike store, a school room and a WWII prefab house. Each building has a story to tell, and many artefacts and items of interest are homed within.
Sadly, Madge died in 2003 and Henry a few years later. It is thanks to their foresight and energy we have the museum you can visit today.
Visit our museum to find out more about Madge and Henry Jackson. See the original site of the museum near 'Henry's Yard' and enjoy Henry's other lifelong passion for trees. Henry planted the first tree on site in 1958 - he called it his arboretum. Today we celebrate his planting with our tree trail.
The growth of the collection
It was Henry and Madge's friends who suggested opening the museum. In 1973 it was named the “Old Kiln Agricultural Museum”, initially opening on Sundays only. This first venture in “Henry's Yard” utilised the disused farmyard buildings. Their treasured collection soon began to expand and grow reflecting their life stories and many interests, such as forestry and market gardening. Henry, Madge and the museum helpers set up a Charitable Trust on 24 April 1984 to ensure the future of the museum. This is when the name changed to the Rural Life Centre. The Rural Life Centre continued to flourish and in 2019 the museum was fortunate in obtaining funding towards building sustainability for the future. At this time the name changed again and became “The Rural Life Living Museum”. Old Kiln cottage is still here and the reference to Old Kiln can still be found across the site. Today though we love being a living museum and sharing over 40,000 artefacts relating to agriculture and rural life. Find out more about our collection here.
An army of volunteers
The museum has always relied heavily on loyal and hardworking volunteers. In the 1990's they were called the “Rustics” and they put their heart and soul into looking after the museum. Today some 'Rustics' still help, so if you are lucky enough to find one of them working at the museum, take time to stop for a chat. They have many interesting stories, facts and information to share about the collection.
We also welcome new volunteers and host volunteer days for businesses, organisations and youth groups so email us at info@rural-life.org.uk if you would like to find out more. Click here to meet our team, including our wonderful volunteers.
What can I see and do at the museum?
There is lots to see and do at the museum. It's a living museum, a place for all ages to explore, with things that work, whir and whistle their way into action.
- Explore the ancient site and its vast collection - rural tools and techniques, heritage buildings, Victorian schoolhouse, post-World War II prefab, Bike shop and workshop, Wood Yard, Steam Engine Sheds, Dennis collection of Fire Engines and much more…...
- Observe and/or volunteer to help with our restoration projects - fire engines, tractors, ploughs, and our onsite partner's the OKLR.
- Experience rural craft and heritage - blacksmithing at our Forge, weaving and textiles, adult learning classes for hedge laying, blacksmithing and natural ink dying, family activity days with heritage themed art and craft.
- Visit our market garden café and shop - set in a shady spot amongst Henry's trees. Follow the tree trail - a good one for families.
- Enjoy our many and varied events through the seasons.
How can I support the museum?
The best way to support the museum is to come and visit us. Best value entry is an annual pass, or you can buy day tickets for the museum and for our events. The Rural Life Living Museum is owned and operated by the Old Kiln Museum CIO, registered charity number 1200370. The museum receives no external funding and is dependent on ticket sales and donations to continue operating so we really appreciate your support.
- Donate with GiftAid
- Volunteering at the museum
- Become a museum Patron - email us at info@rural-life.org.uk if you are interested in this.
- Follow and share our news on social media so we can spread the word about the museum and its calendar of events.
Other opportunities to help:
Come on. Do something good today and support a local charity!