Rural life museum saved as appeal hits £150,000

A museum in Surrey which celebrates rural life has been saved from closure after raising £150,000 in three months.

The Rural Life Living Museum began in 1968 as the collection of Madge and Henry Jackson, who opened their back garden to the public in 1973.

It now has a collection of 20 buildings, including a wartime bomb shelter, a school house and a steam railway, as well as 40,000 objects from farming and rural life.

Director Ed Fagan said the museum at Tilford, near Farnham, has “survived hand-to-mouth through ticket sales and donations for 50 years” but faced closure.

He said: "There was a very strong chance the museum that Madge and Henry built in their garden, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, would have been forced to close.

"The legacy that Madge and Henry entrusted us all with, would have been lost."

More than 2,500 people contributed to the appeal and the last £10,000 was given by a mystery donor.

Mr Fagan said: "We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received.

“We will celebrate by putting our Christmas Santa Specials tickets on sale and looking to the future and all the things we are going to achieve in 2025.”

Events planned for next year include a Village at War weekend in May and Steam at Work in September.

The museum will also host the first Tilford Garden Show in June.

Mr Fagan explained: “The validation from understanding just how many people care about this place has been invaluable.

“Being the custodian of Madge and Henry’s legacy was never going to be easy, but we have proven that it has a future, that it is well loved and deserves to be here, for all, forever.”

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