Rural Life Centre 2012


The Rural Life Centre is open from March 7th. until November 4th., Wednesday to Sunday plus Bank Holiday Mondays from 10am to 5pm.
During the winter months the museum is open on Wednesdays and Sundays only between 11am and 4pm.
(Last admission is always one hour before closing time.)

Well behaved dogs are welcomed on leads and most of the museum site is easily accessible to wheelchair users.


Entry charges to the museum this year are -

Adults £ 8.50     Over 60s/Concessions £ 7.50

Children (5 - 16)  £ 6.00     Family £ 26.00 (2 adults + their children under 16)

Why not come with friends?

Pre-booked groups of 10 or more may deduct £1.50 from the above prices for visits on Thursdays and Fridays only. Please 'phone 01252 795571 for more details.


A printable version of our 2012 diary is available for download here (116KB). It is in PDF format which can be opened using the freely available Adobe Acrobat reader.

SHEEP will be at the museum during most of the main open season.


The OLD KILN LIGHT RAILWAY operates every Sunday during the main open season.


Working Wednesdays - come and meet our volunteer workforce all year


Vanishing Skills Craft Courses

Take place at the museum throughout the year (one and two day). Subjects include basket making, wood turning, blacksmithing, rag rugging, leatherwork and many more. Please enquire for details or click here to download a leaflet.


Kids in Museums Step Back Together

in Activity Thursdays, in the holidays, with demonstrations and workshops on April 5/12, June 7, July 26, August 2/9/16/23/30 and November 1. Also with Family Activities around the museum at other times.

To download a leaflet for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com


Car Boot Sale

On the first Sunday of every month during our main season - 1st. April, 6th. May, 3rd. June, 1st. July, 5th. August, 2nd. September and 7th. October, from 8am to 12pm. Entrance to the car boot sale is free to buyers. If you are interested in having a stall or demonstrating a craft, please contact the museum.

The April 1st. car boot sales will also feature a special Crank Up machinery sale and engine demonstration from 9am to 12pm.


Liphook: the coaching stop that grew

March 7th to April 22nd - Our exhibition shows various aspects of the village through 500 years of history. From the local manors, the London to Portsmouth coaching trade, the arrival of the railway and beyond... to the present day.


Steam Toy Rally

April 7th - Hundreds of working miniature steam engines return to the museum. Demonstrate a working model and come in free (admits one only).


Easter Sunday and Monday

April 8th & 9th - Easter Chick Hunts around the museum for families and children, plus a decorated egg (Sunday) and Easter bonnet (Monday) competition.


Countryside and Woodland Show plus Tilmow

April 29th - Wildlife and countryside groups plus crafts, with the emphasis being on working with wood - cleaving, turning, carving and more. An exhibition on the work of the Canadian Forestry Corps locally during two world wars continues until August 15th.

Flaming furnace Wealden iron furnace in operation during this event


Model Railway Exhibition

May 5th - The Old Kiln Light Railway hosts a variety of layouts, of many different scales and periods.


A Village at War

May 12th and 13th - Our wartime re-enactors once again transform the museum with the sights, sounds and smells of a wartime village 'somewhere in England' as D-Day approaches and the troops prepare for the impending invasion. Come along and experience 1940s' life.

Form Click the button to download an entry form to attend this event as a re-enactor.

Form Click the button to download an entry form to bring a vehicle to this event.


Ag Lab Family History Fair
The Census Detectives

May 20th - Come along to the museum to find out about your rural forebears and exactly what they did during their working lives. Find the tools they used among the museum's displays. This year's event will also look at Polish ancestors.

To download a leaflet for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com


Days Gone By: Transport and machinery from a bygone rural age

Video of last year's Steam & Vintage Weekend which Days Gone By replaces.

May 26th & 27th - The Central Southern Vintage Agricultural Club bring a new rally to the museum and adjoining fram. Steam to stationary engines and crafts to animals will be on show.

Flaming furnace Wealden iron furnace in operation during this event

To download a leaflet for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com

Form Click the button to download an entry form to bring an exhibit to this event.


Open Hive Event

June 17th - Farnham Beekeepers will be holding an open day at the Rural Life Centre Apiary.


Midsummer Jazz Picnic

June 23rd - Our annual open-air evening concert. Booking is essential - please telephone for details. (Different prices apply for this event.)

To download a leaflet and booking form for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com


Romany Day

June 30th - A family day to get a taste of Romany life. Look inside a traditional wagon, enjoy the music and dancing. Find out about the heritage of Romany Gypsies in Surrey.

To download a leaflet for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com


CSVAC Stationary Engine Rally

July 14th and 15th - Engines of all sizes and ages dating back to the early 1900s, many demonstrating the sort of jobs they would have carried out during their working lives on farms and in factories.

To download a leaflet for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com

Form Click the button to download an entry form to bring an exhibit to this event.


The Bacchae Theatre Company presents

Canterbury Tales Made Modern

July 21st - The Bacchae touring theatre compnay presents a new production based on Chaucer's classic written by Phil Woods and produced by Samantha Dent. Set in the delightful semi-woodland setting of the museum why not come along with a chair and a picnic - more details of the evening's production can be found by visiting the company's website or you can book online directly here.

To download a leaflet for this event please visit www.tourismleafletsonline.com


Rustic Sunday

July 29th - See our special page for details of this great, annual family day out - country crafts, country musicians and the ambience of a vanished way of life, plus a Farmers' Market selling local produce. This year we will also celebrate 30 years of steam trains on the Old Kiln Light Railway and locomotive Elouise's 90th birthday.

Flaming furnace Wealden iron furnace in operation during this event

Ford Mk II Car Rally

August 5th - Come along and see a collection of the classic late '50s Zephyrs, Zodiacs and Consuls.


Sunday Funday

August 19th - A special day for children to experience the atmosphere of a fete and Sunday School Treat of old. Come as a family to join in the fun with old fashioned games and pastimes.


What is it?

August 19th to October 28th - Help us to identify some of the more unusual objects in the collection. This exhibition will feature items that have defeated both amateurs and professionals but maybe you know the answer!


Tam Mieszkalismy: We lived there

August 26th - The opening of the museum's new, permanent, Lottery funded tribute to the people who lived in Tweedsmuir Camp, Thursley during and after World War 2.


Weyfest 2012

August 31st, September 1st and 2nd - The family-friendly festival returns with its mix of music and fun. Bands booked so far include: Roy Wood, Mike Sanchez, Curved Air, The Wildcards, Little Johnny England and legendary super-group Asia, featuring members of Yes, ELP and King Crimson. It promises to be the best Weyfest to date!
See www.weyfest.co.uk for more details and please note that Weyfest charges apply to museum entry this weekend.


Donkey Day Out

September 9th - Come along and meet the Donkey Breed Society with their gentle beasts of burden demonstrating how they have served mankind throughout history.


Farnham Beekeepers' Honey Show

September 9th - Farnham Beekeepers will be holding their annual honey show in the museum's village hall.


Classic Vehicle Gathering and Autojumble

September 16th - Surrey Classic Vehicle Club will be back with a wide assortment of vehicles ranging from bikes to buses. Last year saw over 350 taking part.


CSVAC Tractor Rally

September 23rd - This is the first of what is hoped will become an annual event, each year featuring a different manufacturer.

Also Surrey Woodturners' Weekend - 22nd and 23rd September

Flaming furnace Wealden iron furnace in operation during this event

Harvest Home

September 30th - A special day to mark the end of the farming year with a harvest service in the Eashing chapel and activities around the museum including an Autumn show open to all.


Land Rover Day

October 14th - Land Rovers from pre-production through Series I to III, Discovery, Range Rover, Defenders, military and 'specials' are all included in our special day. Land Rover themed autojumble and machinery sale.

Form Click the button to download an entry form for this event.


Christmas Craft Fair

November 17th - 10.30am to 3pm - Traditional and modern crafts demonstrated with original and sometimes unusual gifts for sale. The museum itself is closed but refreshments will be available.

Admission Free!


Santa Specials

December 8/9/15/16 - Click here to visit the Santa Specials page - book early for this popular event.


For details of other special events please see our advertisements in the local press or telephone 01252 795571.
Please note that although all details are correct at time of page creation we would encourage you to check details before travelling to avoid disappointment. The museum reserves the right to change without notice the information contained on this page and may vary the programme of events.

The Old Kiln Museum Trust is a registered charity


Rural Life Centre : Old Kiln Museum : Accredited Museum
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund
Reeds Road, Tilford, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 2DL.
01252 795571 (Fax. 01252 795571)

The Old Kiln Museum Trust is a registered charity
Copyright Old Kiln Museum Trust 2012

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