Rutland County Museum facts for kids
Rutland County Museum Entrance
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| Established | 1969 |
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| Location | Oakham, Rutland, United Kingdom |
The Rutland County Museum is a cool place to visit in Oakham, Rutland, in the United Kingdom. It's located in a really old building that used to be a riding school for cavalry soldiers, built way back in 1794–1795. The museum first opened its doors in 1969.
Inside, you'll find lots of interesting things that tell the story of local life. This includes items about farming, how people lived long ago, and even ancient objects found in the area. They also have special temporary exhibits that change, so there's always something new to see! The best part? It's free to get in!
Contents
Exploring the Museum's Collection
The museum has many different types of items. Its first collections came from a local school and a college in 1967. These included old farm tools and archaeological finds. Over the years, the museum has grown a lot.
Farm Life and Old Tools
Today, the museum has a huge collection about rural life. You can see old farm tools, tractors, and wagons. There are also many tools used by different tradespeople from the past. It's like stepping back in time to see how people worked and lived in the countryside.
Everyday Life and History
Besides farm items, the museum also shows things from daily life and social history. This means you can see household items and learn about how families lived in Rutland long ago. There's also a big collection of archaeological finds from all over the Rutland area. These are ancient objects that help us understand what life was like thousands of years ago.
The Unique New Drop Gallows
One of the most interesting and rare items on display is the New Drop Gallows. It is believed to be the only one of its kind still existing in the United Kingdom. This gallows was portable, meaning it could be moved. It was set up outside Oakham Gaol (an old prison) when it was needed. Records show it was first used in 1813. It's a unique piece of history that shows how justice was carried out in the past.
An Ancient Wagon
The museum also has one of the oldest surviving box wagons in the country. This wagon was built in Lincolnshire and used on a farm in Preston, Rutland. It dates back to between 1755 and 1795. What makes it special is that it has wooden axles, which is quite unusual for a wagon of its age.
The Mysterious Brooke Reliquary
One of the smaller, but very special, items is the Brooke Reliquary. This is a small, decorative box from the 13th century. It was made in workshops in Limoges, France. People believe it once held important religious items, possibly relics of a saint.
The reliquary was found around 1805. It had been hidden for many years at the site of Brooke Priory. It was discovered during building work in the cellar of Priory House. The box is beautifully decorated with Limoges enamel work. It has shades of blue, red, yellow, and green. You can see images of Christ and two apostles or saints on it. The robes on the saints were once covered in gold, but this has worn away over time.
Local Studies Collection
The museum also has a special section called the Local Studies collection. This collection was moved from Oakham Library to the museum in 2010. It's a great place to find out more about Rutland and the villages around it.
You can look at old census records for Rutland, which show who lived where and when. There are also many photographs of local villages. The collection includes the Jack Hart postcard collection, which has lots of old postcards. You can also find Ordnance Survey maps of Rutland and old editions of local newspapers. The museum even offers access to ancestry.co.uk (a special library version) if you want to research your family history! Plus, there are many reference books about the area.
