| |
| Church Farm
Museum is Lincolnshire's only open air museum and though just a short distance from the
centre of Skegness, it soon spirits you away to a quieter more tranquil age. The original
1760's farmhouse is furnished to the period 1900 - 1910 and the room settings are styled
as if the inhabitants have just stepped out for a moment. |
| Regular
demonstrations of baking on the range add to the 'lived-in' feel, as you explore this
lovely building, it has even featured in a series of novels. As you leave the farmhouse,
don't forget to peep in the wash-house, for those of you who remember wash-day and tin
baths' many memories will be stirred and those of you too young may realise what a
blessing hot running water really is. Outside
the original farm buildings, cowsheds, threshing barn and workshops, now house displays of
farming implements and machinery, reminders of an era when life was lived at a slower pace
and the horse, not the car, was king. Our forge is regularly brought to life by our very
own blacksmith, who demonstrates the many skills of this once vital craft. |
| Havenhouse Barn
and Waggon Hovel house the museum's temporary exhibition gallery, which has two different
exhibitions every season, which cover a variety of subjects. Downstairs is the tea-room,
which serves drinks and snacks, it is run by volunteers and therefore cannot open
everyday, so please contact the museum for details to avoid disappointment. Above the
waggon hovel, which houses two early Fergussen tractors, is the Victorian Child
exhibition, which often turns into a Victorian School for demonstrations. Incidentally the
spelling of "Waggon" with two "g"s is the correct traditional
Lincolnshire spelling for "Wagon". Boothby
Barn is a large timber framed threshing barn, reconstructed and restored by the museum to
house our Steam Engine and Threshing Drum during the winter and provides additional
covered display and exhibition space. Withern Cottage is a wonderful example of a
Lincolnshire "Mud and Stud" thatched cottage, which was moved from the nearby
village of Withern to be re-built at the museum. |
| It's simple
furnishings give an insight to the living conditions of an agricultural labourer in the
late (1 8th and if you follow the cottage garden down the cinder path, you can even visit
the outside privy! As you wander the site look out for the summer house nestled at the
bottom of the gardens or study the herb garden for unusual varieties. Don't miss
"Bob" our Hornsby traction engine, brought all the way from Tasmania, back home
to his county of manufacture, to spend his retirement, or simply sit back and drink in the
calming atmosphere of a bygone age. |
| The museum
offers a varied schools programme and numerous special events through the season, as well
as regular Sunday afternoon craft demonstration. Slide talks and quizzes can also be
arranged. Please contact the museum for further details. Museum is open
daily throughout the summer season from 10.00am. to
5.00pm. Admission if free
(excluding special events). . Ample free
coach and car parking. Disabled access to majority of site.
**** Guide Dogs Only ****
 ...Links:
|
|
|
