Rural Life Museum

Costume

Meredith Towne, costume historian and dressmaker, created this historically accurate costume. Sarah wears a caraco or jacket which was a popular informal garment in the late 18th century but fell out of fashionable use by the 1820s. Still worn amongst the working population as a very practical, simple design This costume is a great sensory piece, which will give another level of understanding rural history. The costume is on d isplay in the Rural Life Museum.

Yokes like these were used to bring pails of milk from the yard or field to the dairy. The milkmaid would have the yoke on her shoulders and a pail on either side, suspended from the chains.

The Wheelwright

The job of a wheelwright was highly skilled and complicated. Making a wooden wheel was a particularly difficult task. A wheelwright's skill lay in making the joints so tight that they could hold together without the need for glue or nails. All parts could be removed for repair or replacement without damaging other sections of the wagon.

This is a butter stamp. Used to stamp a design into the top of a block of butter. This is like a logo for the dairy.

Muscle Mass by Laura Ellen Bacon

Laura was commissioned by North Lincolnshire Museums using Arts Council funding. Laura was asked to create a piece inspired by the Rural Life Museum's collections. On her first visit to the museum, Laura was drawn to images ofhaystacks and also by the sedge horse collars in the saddler's display. To create Muscle MassLaura used a large amount of reeds, all harvested at Alkborough Flats.More information: [https://www.lauraellenbacon.com/](https://www.lauraellenbacon.com/)

Mr George Lister (1811 - 1872)

George was a headmaster at Normanby School. Sir Robert Sheffield hired him in 1842. He earned £18 per year. George and his wife lived in Normanby village. By 1860, the school at Normanby was in a poor state. Sir Robert Sheffield decided to build a new school. But he did not provide George with a temporary location to teach, and George was out of work. By 1871 George and his wife had relocated to Leeds, where he had found another post as headmaster.

Tractor

The Village Shop

By the 1860s almost every village had at least one shop. These were general stores that stocked a huge range of items to cater for most of the villagers' needs. Goods were bought in bulk and prepared for sale in the shop. Many products were weighed and wrapped in front of the customer but the introduction of packaging reduced the shopkeeper's workload. Paper bags became common from the 1850s and were usually pre-printed with weights.

This is one of the drawings made by Mr. Thompsons, a wheelwright from Keelby. This drawing was made in 1885, it shows the draw bars for a new cart.

The Pig

Pig keeping was essential for the tenant farmer to provide meat for his household throughout the year. The curly coat was Lincolnshire's own special breed of pig. It produced lots of fat meat, which tenant farmers used as cheap food for their labourers.

Aerial Photography by Jason Butler

Jason Butler is a keen photographer specialising in unique perspective photographs from a birds e ye view. He uses new DJI drone technology to capture stunning photographs.The photographs on display in the Rural Life Museum are all taken locally. For more photographs and information go to: [https://j20butphotography.co.uk/](https://j20butphotography.co.uk/)

The kitchen garden

Many villagers and tenant farmers had a vegetable garden and fruit trees to supply food and medicinal herbs throughout the year. Gardeners carefully chose to plant vegetables and fruits that would keep well over the winter months. Tenants may have kept chickens, geese and ducks for their meat and eggs. Ducks also helped to manage the garden's slug problem. Caring for the garden and poultry yard was the responsibility of the farmer's wife.

Blue Tit and Chicks

The Hedger and Ditcher

Hedges were commonly found in Lincolnshire and offered a range of benefits to the tenant farmer. They protected crops in the field, sheltered animals from harsh weather and provided a habitat for wildlife. In North Lincolnshire, land was reclaimed from flooding and marshland by creating a drainage system. By the 1850s, it was common for farmers alongside the River Trent to flood their land using a process called warping.

Beekeeping objects

Aerial Photography by Jason Butler

Jason Butler is a keen photographer specialising in unique perspective photographs from a birds eye view. He uses new DJI drone technology to capture stunning photographs. The photographs on display in the Rural Life Museum are all taken locally. For more photographs and information go to:[J20 But Photography](https://j20butphotography.co.uk/)

The Farm Wagon

The Lincolnshire wagon is the largest and simplest of English farm wagons. Lincolnshire wagons are heavy and pulled by at least two horses. The front board displays the name of the owner, farm address and date of construction or when the wagon was last painted. A Hermaphrodite wagon was typical of the East Midlands and East Anglia. It was called so because it can be a 4 wheeled wagon for heavy loads or it can be changed into a 2 wheeled cart for lighter loads.

This is a spoke shave, used by a wheelwright to shape the spokes for a wheel by shaving the wood off.

The Printer

The rural printer was the commercial glue of the community. The printer produced a huge range of material. Posters, handbills and pamphlets were needed by local farmers and auction houses to advertise upcoming sales of land, property and livestock. Local businesses required personalised receipts, invoice books and perhaps letter heads, compliment slips or brochures.

Fertile Land

As they are growing, crops absorb nutrients from the soil. These nutrients must be replaced to keep the soil fertile so crops will continue to grow. Crop rotation was necessary to make sure the crops would get the right nutrients. This was done until the late 1800s, when artificial fertilisers were available. This made it possible for a farmer to grow any crop they wanted.

The Brick and Tile Maker

A prosperous brick and tile industry developed on the banks of the River Humber due to rich clay deposits found in the area. Early brick and tile yards were small and established to supply the local area. In autumn, clay was dug for the next season of brick and tile making. It was piled into large mounds and left to weather over winter.

The Pub and Brewery

The pub has been a central focus of the village for hundreds of years and many villages had several. Some were very small, consisting of no more than a room that could hold around 12 customers. Beer was the drink of choice in rural pubs. It was usual for pub landlords to brew their own beer. But during the 1800s, large commercial breweries arrived in rural areas.

The Agricultural Engineer

Some blacksmiths further developed their skills as manufacturers of farm implements and grew into agricultural engineering firms. In North Lincolnshire, one such business was Fletcher's of Winterton. The company started in 1840 as Beacock and Fletcher. In 1852 was solely run by Fletcher. Fletcher's exhibited at local agricultural shows and markets to promote the business and attract new customers. The firm designed award winning new farming implements.

Walter Atkinson (1871 - 1957)

Walter started work on the Normanby Estate as an apprentice gamekeeper for Sir Berkeley Sheffield. In 1902 he was promoted to gamekeeper for the Crosby Warren area. This area is now called Atkinson's Warren or, as the locals call it, Ackie's Warren. Besides being the gamekeeper, Walter ran his own farm. He had arable land and kept horses, cows and pigs. He also had working dogs, used for flushing out and retrieving pheasants and killing rats. Walter reared the pheasants, in preparation for the shooting season.

The Normanby Show

The Normanby Show was a yearly event, held in the grounds of Normanby Hall between 1884 and 1914. At first it was a one-day event, and from 1907 it was extended to two days.The Normanby Show was organised by the Normanby Estates Agricultural and Horticultural Society. The 6th Baronet, Sir Berkeley Sheffield, was president of the Society for many years, although the show was organised by his Estate Manager.

Preparing the Land

The farming year started in winter when the land was prepared for crops. The fields had to be ploughed to bury weeds, air the soil and bring fertile soil to the surface. A team of two or three horses or oxen would pull a plough to cut a single furrow. This method of ploughing covered an acre in a 10-hour working day. Mechanisation in the mid 19th century made it possible to plough up to 8 acres a day. Today a farmer can plough 25 acres in one day.

These are calculations made by Mr. Thompsons, a wheelwright from Keelby. The calculations are for a rulley for Mr W. Anderson.

The Post Office

The Post Office became widespread in the mid-1800s. Even the most remote places had a Post Office, often located within the local shop. It soon became a central focus of the community due to the important services offered and a place to discuss business or gossip. The Rural Post Review of 1851 to 1859 created many new post routes, which connected more rural areas to the national post network.

The Great Bear

This is a model of the Great Western Railway Pacific class engine, "The Great Bear". It was built for Sir Berkeley Sheffield in 1910. Sir Berkeley Sheffield was a Director of the Great Western Railway. He built a miniature railway track at Normanby to train his sons in the mechanics of railway operation.

Touchscreen

On the touchscreen in the Rural Life Museum you can find out more about the collections on display. You can view old Estate maps, wildlife videos from the park and play games!

Animal Feed

During the 1800s, the number of farm animals in Britain greatly increased. Hay alone was no longer enough to feed all the animals and farmers started feeding them root crops. Vegetables like carrots, turnips, potatoes and mangolds, were grown for use as animal feed. Machines were developed to cut and grate these vegetables for the life stock.

Sir Ulick Roland Burke (1872 - 1958)

Ulick worked for the Normanby Estate when he was simply Mr Burke. He was the Estate Agent for Sir Berkeley Sheffield. He worked on the estate from about 1899, until he left to work for the Duke of Devonshire in 1908. Ulick had several roles in the organisation of the Normanby Show. He was a good sport and entered many races that took place. In 1939, in recognition for his services to agriculture, Ulick was knighted by King George VI.

The Beekeeper

Tenant farmers kept bees to produce honey and beeswax. Honey was a natural sweetener available to the poor when sugar was still a luxury. Beeswax could be used for candles and cosmetics. Both products could supply extra income. Bees would also pollinate the farmer's fruit trees and kitchen garden.

Plough

The Chemist

Most chemists produced and packed their own remedies. As most powdered medicines had a horrible taste they were formed into pills, varnished and sometimes covered in rice paper. This made them easier to swallow. During the 1800s, more drugs were available for sale and sold in smaller quantities. The large bottles previously used to hold large amounts of ingredients were now abandoned but kept for decoration.

Normanby Estate

This panel tells many stories about the Sheffield Family and their roles and actions on Normanby Estate. This image shows part of a 1778 estate map, showing illustrations of the ruined Elizabethan hall (right) and the then standing Stuart Hall.

This is a milk pancheon. It was used to store milk overnight so that the cream would rise and this could then be used to make butter.

High Days and Holidays

May Day was eagerly anticipated as everybody was given a day off to celebrate. Children gathered flowers and hedgerow branches in the morning and formed them into garlands. They showed their garlands off to fellow villagers in the afternoon and were given money for their work. This money paid for party food, which was a real treat for children who were not strangers to hunger.

Bats

Normanby Hall Country Park is home to many bats. Several species can be seen here, such as soprano pipistrelle, brown long-eared, Daubenton's and Natterer's. The Rural Life Museum is a great location for maternity roosts. These are gatherings of females and their young. We have maternity roosts here between May and August.

The Bicycle

The bicycle was invented in the 1800s but did not become widespread until the early 1900s. The bicycle brought new possibilities for rural folk. It was a form of personal transport that many members of the working classes could afford. People could now travel further for work. It enabled people to make regular day trips.

Muscle Mass by Laura Ellen Bacon

Welcome to the Virtual Rural Life Museum

Have a walk through the museum from anywhere in the world! The dots you see all over the Museum are hotspots. Blue coloured dots have a summary of the text panels. Bright Pink dots are a link to a video, which will explain more about the object or display. Enjoy your virtual walk!

The Great Bear

This is a model of the Great Western Railway Pacific class engine, "The Great Bear". It was built for Sir Berkeley Sheffield in 1910 by James Carson & Co. Ltd. of Cricklewood with help from the modelling company, W. J. Bassett-Lowke.Sir Berkeley Sheffield was a Director of the Great Western Railway. He built a miniature railway track at Normanby to train his sons in the mechanics of railway operation.After the death of Sir Berkeley Sheffield in 1946, the locomotives were sold. The track was lifted and sold to a fairground in Mablethorpe.In the early 1960s, the Scunthorpe Society of Model Engineers brought a miniature railway back to Normanby, which still runs out of the original engine shed. In June 2006, a new track was laid close to the site of the original and the Great Bear returned home.Beside the Great Bear you can see the original boiler.

Aerial Photography by Jason Butler

Jason Butler is a keen photographer specialising in unique perspective photographs from a birds eye view. He uses new DJI drone technology to capture stunning photographs.The photographs on display in the Rural Life Museum are all taken locally. For more photographs and information go to:[https://j20butphotography.co.uk/](https://j20butphotography.co.uk/)

Fighting the Weeds

Once seeds are sown and begin to take root, the young plants have to fight against weeds. Crops that were grown from hand scattered seeds, needed weeding by hand too. Crops that were planted by a machine like a seed drill could be weeded using a horse hoe. Successful management of a land was judged by the number of weeds in a field.

Radiance Confectionary Works

This is one of the locally made products that can be seen inside the General Store. Radiance Confectionary Works was a family business, owned by the Jackson Family in Scunthorpe. The factory was located on Gilliatt Street (1917) and then on Cole Street (1926).

This is a cream skimmer. It was used to remove the layer of cream that formed on milk. The holes in the skimmer are to let the milk drip back into the pancheon.

This is a butter churn. Cream would be poured inside, the handle would be turned continuously to move the milk. At the end of the process there was butter and buttermilk.

The Tenant Farmer’s cottage

The tenant farmer's cottage reflected his way of life and was organised into distinct living and working areas. Working rooms included somewhere to bake, brew and wash clothes. The kitchen was the heart of the farmhouse and a space for all members of the household to meet. It was a place to work and socialise.

This is a milk churn from Scunthorpe Co-Operative Society. It would have been used to transport milk.

Johnson’s Motorcycle

This motorcycle was made by Johnson's Cycles of Scunthorpe. The company was started in 1890, with its first premises on Home Street, Scunthorpe. Production of motorcycles only lasted between 1901 and 1905. This model was produced in 1901 and is thought to be the only Johnson's motorcycle to have survived.

Aerial Photography by Jason Butler

Jason Butler is a keen photographer specialising in unique perspective photographs from a birds eye view. He uses new DJI drone technology to capture stunning photographs.The photographs on display in the Rural Life Museum are all taken locally. For more photographs and information go to:[https://j20butphotography.co.uk/](https://j20butphotography.co.uk/)

The Ironmonger

During the 1800s and early 1900s, the ironmonger provided a huge range of household goods. He not only made but also installed and maintained items such as kitchen ranges and hot water systems. From the mid-1800s, manufacturers introduced catalogues offering a wide range of products. Many ironmongers that specialised in building and sanitary supplies developed into builder's merchants in the early 1900s.

Aerial Photography by Jason Butler

Jason Butler is a keen photographer specialising in unique perspective photographs from a birds eye view. He uses new DJI drone technology to capture stunning photographs.The photographs on display in the Rural Life Museum are all taken locally. For more photographs and information go to:[https://j20butphotography.co.uk/](https://j20butphotography.co.uk/)

Scullery

Sarah Pulleine (1787 - 1861)

When Sarah's husband, William Pulleine, died in about 1819, Sarah became head of the household, as well as the farm. Even when her son, Richard, came of age, Sarah was still the head of the business. In 1851 she had eight labourers and four servants in employment. In 1835 Sarah rented 336 acres from Sir Robert Sheffield. This was by far the largest farm in the area run by a woman. But it was also far above the average farm size on the estate.

The Cottage Industries

Farming families found other ways of supplementing their income. One option was producing goods for sale through cottage industries. Many cottage industries were undertaken by the farmstead's females. Pillow lace-making was popular throughout Lincolnshire. Skills developed when Continental settlers arrived and brought their own methods. This boosted trade as Continental lace was of high quality.

Victorian Farm- Making a horseshoe

Threshing

Threshing is the process of separating grain from a crop's waste products, known as straw and chaff. Before mechanisation about 100 people would be needed to thrash the grain in the fields. Once threshers became available, mid-1800s, about 10 workers were needed to do the same job. Many farm labourers lost their steady stream of winter work.

The Blacksmith

The skills of the blacksmith were vital to a community. He provided domestic essentials and the tools required by all other craftspeople and workers to fulfil their roles. Shoeing horses is known as farriery and was the basis of a blacksmith's workload. Blacksmiths were also engaged to produce ornamental work. With the dawn of industrialisation, some blacksmiths decided to enter into motor and agricultural engineering or decorative ironworking to survive.

The Undertaker

Death was more present in the 1800s and early 1900s. The funeral was extremely important and governed by social rules. This provided the undertaker with the opportunity to make money. People were so keen to save face that they could impoverish themselves by giving the deceased the grade of funeral society expected. To provide for the expense of their funeral, people planned far in advance and joined burial clubs to save up money over time.

Loose Hay Loader

Lizzie Champion (1888 – 1932)

Lizzie was a farmer's daughter. Her father, William Champion, ran Park Ings Farm outside Flixborough. When Lizzie was 14 she wrote a diary, which gives a vivid insight into her life. Lizzie went to school in Flixborough, where she also often attended chapel. Lizzie, her sister and her mother made clothes and many girls and ladies came to the farm for fittings. Lizzie helped her mother with cooking, cleaning, milking cows and delivering parcels. She also helped in the farmyard with jobs like thrashing crops and killing rats.

Ulick

Meredith Towne, costume historian and dressmaker, created this historically accurate costume. The wool for Sir Ulick's costume was woven in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. This costume is a great sensory piece, which will give another level of understanding rural history. The costume is on display in the Rural Life Museum.

Thomas Taylor Des Forges (1798 - 1882)

Thomas was born in Hull. He was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in London. He married Jane Barker in 1827 at Burtonupon- Stather. Besides surgeon, he was also an apothecary and a public vaccinator.When Storey Jackson, the Normanby Estate gamekeeper, was attacked in December 1838, Thomas was called out. In this case Thomas was only called out to do the post-mortem of the already deceased victim.

Thomas Johnson (1800 – 1842)

Thomas worked as a general labourer. On 13 December 1838, Thomas committed a crime when he went poaching in Normanby Park. Poaching was often linked to poverty. When discovered, Thomas shot and killed one of the gamekeepers. Thomas ran away and was not caught until he was arrested for another crime. His punishment was to be transported for life to Van Diemen's Land, now Tazmania. The ship Thomas was on was wrecked in a storm, and Thomas died.

The Gamekeeper

Normanby Park is ideal for shooting as its woods provide good shelter for pheasants and partridges. The Estate employed a Head Gamekeeper, three under keepers and apprentice gamekeepers. The Gamekeeper was in charge of the seasonal shoots, the rearing of the game and also protecting the land from poachers.

Welcome to the Rural Life Museum

Discover the story of the local farmer, from about 1850 to 1950. Photographs and objects from local farms show a typical year on the farm, from ploughing the land to harvesting the crops.Upstairs you can learn about important rural crafts, such as the Saddler, Blacksmith and Wheelwright.Your visit ends in the Transport Gallery where you can see beautifully crafted farm wagons, a Co-op van and locally made bicycles.Enjoy your visit!

Haymaking

Using a scythe effectively required a sense of balance and rhythm. A skilled scytheman could cut nearly an acre of grass a day. Even when the mechanical mower was introduced in the mid 1800s, scythes were still used to clear a path for the machine. The dried grass was taken to the stackyard where it was built into stacks and given a protective thatch roof.

This is a bow saw or a felloe saw. The wheelwright used this to cut the wood by hand.

Tractor

This tractor is a Fordson Major E27N and it was probably built in 1946. It is an unconverted tractor, meaning it still runs on petrol and paraffin. The top speed is 15 miles per hour. This tractor was used to mow verges in and around Garthorpe

Adze

This is an adze, used by a wheelwright to chip or shave the inside surface of wheel felloes. Fellows are the curved outer parts of a wheel.

Deliveries

The Co-operative Society had stores in towns but also offered a delivery service. Their delivery vans were a familiar sight on the streets of North Lincolnshire in the early to mid 1900s. This example dates from the 1930s and was one of many to have served in the area until the 1950s. It supplied Co-operative branches and houses in Scunthorpe and its surrounding villages. One such store was the Co-operative Society. Their delivery vans were a familiar sight on the streets of North Lincolnshire in the early to mid 1900s. This example dates from the 1930s and was one of many to have served in the area until the 1950s.This van delivered bread and cakes to houses in Scunthorpe a few times a week. It also supplied Co-operative branches and houses in surrounding villages. By 1924, the Scunthorpe Co-operative Society owned around 40 horse-drawn vans for delivering bread, milk, meat and groceries.

Original boiler of The Great Bear

The locomotive was fitted with a new boiler in 1982.

The Saddler

The saddler was an important member of the community. His skills helped to harness the power of horses and other working animals. The saddler's workshop on display belonged to Fred Sutton of Burton-upon-Stather. Fred's father, James Sutton started the business in 1892. The workshop's main customer was the Normanby Estate, producing material for both carriage and farm horses.

These are butter pads. They were used to remove butter from the churn and then to shape the butter.

Aerial Photography by Jason Butler

Jason Butler is a keen photographer specialising in unique perspective photographs from a birds eye view. He uses new DJI drone technology to capture stunning photographs.The photographs on display in the Rural Life Museum are all taken locally. For more photographs and information go to: [https://j20butphotography.co.uk/](https://j20butphotography.co.uk/)

This is a traveler, used by a wheelwright to measure a wagon wheel. With the measurement the iron tire could be made to fit the wheel.

Drinks Crate

This is a typical drinks crate that would have been used to transport and store bottles. This one came from David B. Todd Ltd, a grocer on the High Street in Scunthorpe.

Sowing the Seed

For hundreds of years most seeds were sown using a method called broadcasting. Farm workers walked across the fields spreading handfuls of seed. Wheat and barley were sown by dibbing. Farm workers walked backwards with a dibber making holes in the ground into which seeds were planted. By the early 1800s, various seed drills had been invented to sow seeds in straight rows.

The Dairy

Originally the dairy was run by women. It was often placed alongside the north wall of the farmhouse, with a thatched or tiled roof and preferably under the shade of trees to keep it cool. Milking took place in the early morning and late afternoon. Milk maids took their equipment out to the cows in the field and carried the milk using a yoke.

Mowing and Reaping

The first crop to be harvested was hay, this was done in June. Wheat and barley were harvested in August and September. Cut corn was gathered by hand into sheaves with sickles and scythes. It was then tied with straw and stood in bundles called stooks in the field to dry. By the end of the 1800s horse-drawn mechanical reaper binders had arrived. They not only cut corn but also tied crops into sheaves with twine.