ANNOUNCEMENT: We are now open 7 days a week! We are closed to the public on 10th April and 8th May.
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Donate
How can I support the museum?
The best way to support the museum is to buy an annual pass each year. That gives the museum a steady flow of income and is the best value entry for visitors for all our spring and summer events. Donations and purchases with gift aid also help a lot.
For those with deeper pockets we welcome larger donations and there is also the opportunity to join our Patrons Scheme. The Patrons Scheme has been designed to reflect the needs of the museum now and the aspirations for the future with a choice of pricing options to suit business and personal budgets.
Find out more about the Patrons SchemeTo donate to the Patrons Scheme, pick which area you would like to support and then which Tier. Then you can make your donation. For individual members this is via CAF donate. Click the buttons below to donate.
For Corporate and Club memberships please email info@rural-life.org.uk. Payments for Corporate and Club membership is made by bank transfer as these payments are not supported by CAF donate.
Why a Legacy Gift Matters
A gift in your Will is one of the most meaningful ways to support the Rural Life Living Museum. It helps protect the stories, skills, and heritage of rural England so that present and future generations can learn from and enjoy them.
- Preserve historic buildings, tools, and collections for years to come.
- Support educational programmes that inspire children and young people.
- Care for our landscapes and working exhibits.
- Continue offering a welcoming, inclusive space for our community.
Legacy gifts allow us to:
A legacy gift is not an alternative to providing for your loved ones. Many supporters choose to leave a small percentage of their estate to the museum after family and friends have been taken care of.
How Leaving a Gift in Your Will Works
- A residuary gift — a percentage of your estate after other gifts and expenses have been settled.
- A pecuniary gift — a fixed sum of money.
- A specific gift — an item of value, such as tools, books, or artefacts that supports our collection.
- Your solicitor can help you include the museum in a new Will or add a short amendment (a codicil) to an existing one.
Leaving a legacy is simpler than many people realise. You can choose the type of gift that feels right for you:
Information Your Solicitor Will Need
To include the Rural Life Living Museum in your Will, your solicitor will require the following details:
Charity Name: Old Kiln Museum CIO
Registered Charity Number: 1200370
Address: Rural Life Living Museum, The Reeds Road, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 2DL
Your Legacy, Your Story
- They want to preserve the countryside heritage they grew up with.
- They value the museum as a place of learning, wellbeing and community.
- They want future generations to experience rural life as it once was.
Every legacy gift, large or small, makes a lasting difference. Many supporters choose to leave a gift because:
Letting Us Know
You are under no obligation to tell us about your decision, but if you do, it helps us plan for the future and gives us the chance to thank you properly. Any information you share will be treated with complete confidence.
What is money spent on?
Money is spent on maintaining and improving the 15-acres Estate. Buildings, lighting, heating, repairs and managing and maintaining the museum collection of over 40,000 artefacts.
New projects too, like the tree trail showcasing the trees left to us by the Founders Madge and Henry Jackson and creating a new learning space for children and adults to use all year round. With the right support the team can aim high and continue to develop the Rural Life Living Museum for all to enjoy.
Thanks for being part of the team that brings our rural heritage to life.
If you would like to support the museum and have a particular passion for a building or project, let us know.
Donate an Object
We would be delighted to hear from you if you have an object that you think might be perfect for our collection. Please do not bring your object to the Museum or send it to us without speaking to our Collections Team first.
How to donate an object
Please email info@rural-life.org.uk with as much information as you have on the object and include photographs of the object if you can. By emailing us with information and photographs, the Collections Team can assess the object and check to see if we already have examples of that object in the collection. Any object that could enhance or complete our collection is then put through an approval procedure; this ensures that the object adheres to our Collections Policy.
What happens next?
The Collections Manager will contact you to confirm that your email has been received, clarify any information and to explain what happens next.
If your object is accepted
The Collections Manager will contact you to accept your donation so that it becomes part of our collection and arrange for it to be transferred to us.
If your object is declined
You will be given a reason why we cannot accept your kind offer of donation and where possible, we will suggest other appropriate contacts for you to consider next.