Yorkshire Museum of Farming facts for kids
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Main entrance area
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | Murton Park, York, England |
| Type | Farming Museum, Living History Centre |
The Yorkshire Museum of Farming is a cool place to visit near York, England. It's located in Murton Park and covers about 14 acres of land. This museum is special because it's the only one in the area focused entirely on farming. It helps you learn all about how food is grown and how farms have changed over time.
The museum has a huge collection of old farm machines. It also shows how people lived in the countryside long ago. Throughout the year, the museum hosts fun events about farming and rural life. There's even a play area for kids and a cafe to grab a snack!
The museum site is also home to a special railway. It's the last part of the old Derwent Valley Light Railway. Some of its history is kept right here at the museum.
The museum shares its space with the Danelaw Centre for Living History. This means you can step back in time! You can explore a pretend Roman fort called Brigantium. It's like an outdoor classroom for up to 65 kids. There are also buildings that show what life was like in the Tudor and Viking ages. You can even see a Dark Age village and learn how people farmed centuries ago.
Contents
Discovering Farm History
The Yorkshire Museum of Farming first opened its doors in 1982. It was created to hold a growing collection of farm machines. These machines were given by farms from North and East Yorkshire.
Farm Machines and Animals
The main part of the museum's collection shows how farming became more mechanical. This happened mostly in the 1800s and 1900s. You can see many different items in two main areas: the Four Seasons Gallery and the Livestock Gallery.
The museum also keeps some rare farm animals. For example, there's a Toggenburg goat named 'Jeffrey'. He's even an honorary mascot for the RAF 609 (West Riding) squadron since 2010!
The Four Seasons Gallery
The Four Seasons Gallery teaches you about the farming year. It shows the different jobs and tools used during spring, summer, autumn, and winter. In 2013, a new exhibit opened here. It's called Feeding the Nation: A Celebration of the Women's Land Army. This exhibit is on the upper floor. It tells the story of the brave women who worked on farms during wartime. You can listen to interviews with these women and watch old films.
The Livestock Gallery
The Livestock Gallery focuses on raising different types of farm animals. This area also has a display of items from the veterinary surgery of James Herriot (whose real name was Alf Wight). He was a famous vet and author.
Museum Archives and Library
The museum also has a large collection of old papers and documents. You can view these by making an appointment. They cover topics like old farm records, accounts from farm machine makers, and the Women's Land Army. There's also a big library with old journals, manuals, and magazines. You can visit the library by appointment too.
Stories from Farming Families
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Between 2007 and 2008, the museum worked on a special project. They interviewed many different farming families. This project created a video display that shows various types of farms from around Yorkshire. You can learn about dairy farms, sheep farms, pig farms, and farms that grow crops. Some farms use organic methods, while others use special chemicals. You can also see how artificial insemination works and learn about small subsistence farms. A new room was built just for this video display.
The Derwent Valley Light Railway
The museum is built on the path of the old Derwent Valley Light Railway. This was a private railway that ran from Layerthorpe, near York, to Cliffe Common near Selby. The railway closed in 1981. However, a small part of it has been fixed up and is now part of the museum! It opened in 1993. The museum even has a station building that used to be in Wheldrake. There's about three-quarters of a mile of track that runs along the original path towards York.
Images for kids
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Front display area in main barn
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Rear display area in main barn
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Middle display area in main barn
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