Somerset Rural Life Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1975 |
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| Location | Glastonbury, Somerset |
The Somerset Rural Life Museum is a cool place to visit in Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. It's a museum that tells the story of how people lived and farmed in Somerset long ago. The main part of the museum is inside a really old barn from the 1300s. This barn used to belong to Glastonbury Abbey.
Contents
The Abbey Barn: A Historic Building
The museum's main building is a huge barn built in the 14th century. It was made from local stone called 'shelly' limestone. Thick wooden beams support its stone-tiled roof. This barn is super important! English Heritage has given it a special Grade I listed building status. It is also a Scheduled monument, meaning it's protected by law.
What the Barn Was Used For
This huge barn was used to store crops like wheat and rye. These crops came from the abbey's own farm, which was about 524 acres big. People also used the barn to prepare the crops. They would do threshing, which separates the grain from the plant. Then they would do winnowing, which blows away the lighter husks.
The Barn's Journey Through Time
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, the barn was given to the Duke of Somerset. By the early 1900s, a family called Mapstone used it as a farm store. In 1974, they kindly gave it to Somerset County Council. The barn was then carefully fixed up between 1976 and 1978. You might even recognize it from a movie! It was used for a pistol duel scene in Stanley Kubrick's film "Barry Lyndon" in 1975.
In 2011, the barn's huge 14-foot-high doors were replaced. Local craftspeople used old methods and materials to make new doors. Their design was inspired by "The Bishop's Eye" in Wells.
Exploring the Museum's Exhibits
The museum shows you what life was like in Somerset's countryside. You can see old farm machines from the Victorian times or the early 1900s.
Local Crafts and Traditions
Many exhibits show special local crafts. You can learn about willow coppicing, which is how people grow and cut willow trees for baskets. There's also mud horse fishing, a unique way of fishing on the muddy flats of Bridgwater Bay. You can also discover how people used to dig peat from the Somerset Levels for fuel.
Farm Life and Food Production
The museum also teaches you about making food. You'll see how people produced milk, cheese, and cider. In some rooms, you can see how homes looked in the nearby village of Butleigh. The museum tells the story of a farm worker named John Hodges, from when he was born until he died.
Outdoor Areas and Activities
Outside, you can find a beehive and see some rare types of poultry (like chickens) and sheep. There's also a cider apple orchard. The museum often has live demonstrations of crafts and talks about farming. They also have fun activities especially for children and families.
The museum has a shop where you can buy souvenirs. There's also a tea room if you get hungry. You'll find a car park and easy access for people with disabilities. The shop is run by a group called the Friends of the Somerset Rural Life Museum.
Gallery of museum exhibits
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Funeral bier
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Mangle
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Three seater toilet
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Apple Press for cider making
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Butter Churn
