Surrey’s Rural Life Living Museum Secures Future After Raising £150,000

A museum in Surrey dedicated to rural heritage has been preserved from closure, having successfully accumulated £150,000 within a three-month period. The Rural Life Living Museum commenced in 1968, originating from the personal collection of Madge and Henry Jackson, who first opened their back garden to the public in 1973. Currently, it features a collection of 20 structures, including a wartime bomb shelter, a school house, and a steam railway, alongside 40,000 artifacts from farming and rural existence. Director Ed Fagan stated that the museum, located in Tilford, near Farnham, had “survived hand-to-mouth through ticket sales and donations for 50 years” but was facing the threat of closure. He remarked: “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.” He added that “The legacy that Madge and Henry entrusted us all with, would have been lost.” More than 2,500 individuals contributed to the fundraising appeal, and the final £10,000 was provided by an anonymous donor. Mr Fagan commented: “We have been overwhelmed by the support we have received.” He further noted, “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 scheduled for the upcoming year include a Village at War weekend in May and Steam at Work in September. The museum is also set to host the inaugural Tilford Garden Show in June. Mr Fagan elaborated: “The validation from understanding just how many people care about this place has been invaluable.” He concluded by stating, “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.”