Museum of Kent Life

The Museum of Kent Life is an open air museum located at Sandling, next to Allington Locks on the east bank of the River Medway.

History

.Kentish Oasts p159] [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=VOLXSQ61121536037869333217495Q Museum of Kent Life] ]

Farming

At the museum, various aspects of farming are recreated. There are two small hop gardens, growing Fuggles and Goldings hops. Apple and plum orchards, a herb garden, a soft fruit garden and various livestock.

Buildings

The museum has a variety of buildings, most of which have been dismantled and re-erected at the museum.

Barn

A five bay barn dating from the eighteenth century and originally at Vale Farm, Calcott, near Sturry. The barn has an oak frame and a thatched roof. It was dismantled in 1984 and re-erected at the museum in 1989. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=WSECAF843729558965878353189724F& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Chapel

The chapel is a timber framed building clad in corrugated iron. It was originally built in 1897 in Cuxton and was donated to the museum in 2000 when a new chapel was built. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=PRYAXR75296943268856986600368R& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Lenham Cottages

Originally called "Old Cottage" and "Water Street Cottage", these cottages stood at Lenham. The Grade II listed building were threatened by the building of the Channel Tunnel rail link. The builder of the link offered the cottages to the museum, along with the funding for their removal and re-erection. They were dismantled in June 1999, and re-erected between January 2000 and March 2001, opening to the public in July 2001. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=PHGRAZ253641674168515172110622Z& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Petts Farmhouse

A late eighteenth century farmhouse. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=HRPYEU152430128298611515395229U& Museum of Kent Life] ] [http://www.aboutbritain.com/MuseumOfKentLife.htm About Britain] ] Petts Farmhouse is a Grade II* listed building. [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=179293&mode=quick English Heritage] ]

Sandling Farmhouse

Sandling farmhouse is one of the original farm buildings. It was the home of George Brundle, the last tenant of the farm until his death at 98 in 2001. The building dates to the sixteenth century, and has links to Sir Thomas Wyatt. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=WURNEI714670726275143530786770I& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Forge

A blacksmith's forge has been recreated at the museum. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=MUITAK86718231918545714922207K& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Granary

A nineteenth century granary from Boxley Grange Farm, Boxley was dismantled in March 1993 and has been re-erected at the museum. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=VXJGKJ338556833652310326659267J& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Hopper Huts

A set of Hopper huts from North Frith Farm, Hadlow was dismantled and re-erected at the museum. These huts are built of brick, with internal fireplaces. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=LTNQPX728098453372311592871730X& Museum of Kent Life] ] A set of hopper huts with a wood frame clad in corrugated iron has been constructed, along with a cookhouse and privy.

Oast

. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=SCHYZU930796202916378937799709U& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Shepherd's Hut

A shepherd's hut from Acton Farm, Charing was presented to the museum in 1994. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=SERGWV790567936185727067844265V& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Tack Room

A tack room has been recreated at the museum. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=RFPZYS58214813719571183391445S& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Tearooms

The tearooms are housed in one of the original farm houses. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=EXIRIF307581492394070630031460F& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Village Hall

Of similar construction to the chapel. The old village hall from Ulcombe was donated to the museum in 1997. It was dismantled in October 1997 and re-erected, opening to the public in June 2000. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=CDOZJB659143981847195646437710B& Museum of Kent Life] ]

Wagon Store

The wagon store building was purpose built at the museum in 1993. The re-created forge is at one end. [http://www.kentmuseum.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=HJNGBO519663395250363267780178O& Museum of Kent Life] ]

References

Sources

*

External links

* [http://www.museum-kentlife.co.uk/CMS/webpages_public.asp?strID=Guest&strPageID=123 Museum of Kent Life] homepage