The Rural Life Living Museum is here thanks to Madge and Henry Jackson, an inspiring couple who started collecting items – fuelled by a desire to create a fabulous garden full of interesting ornaments and things. It started when they unearthed a horse drawn plough in woods at Waterlooville, Hampshire and with permission brought it home to use it as a garden ornament.

Realising agricultural implements used by earlier generations were being lost and destroyed they visited farm sales and local auctions determined to save these historic artefacts. Other treasured possessions such as waggons, binders and hand tools were donated. From then on Henry and Madge became avid collectors.

As their collection grew, they needed to house it, and the couple acquired a series of old buildings and barns from the local area. Today some of these heritage buildings are a valuable part of the museum collection which now includes a Chapel, a cricket pavilion, an old workshop and bike store, a school room and a WWII prefab house. Each building has a story to tell, and many artefacts and items of interest are homed within.

Sadly, Madge died in 2003 and Henry a few years later. It is thanks to their foresight and energy we have the museum you can visit today.

Visit our museum to find out more about Madge and Henry Jackson. See the original site of the museum near ‘Henry’s Yard’ and enjoy Henry’s other lifelong passion for trees. Henry planted the first tree on site in 1958 – he called it his arboretum. Today we celebrate his planting with our tree trail.

With over 15 acres, 40,000 artefacts and 30 buildings and events going on all year round there is something for everyone.