Somerset Rural Life Museum

{{Short description|Grade I listed local museum in Glastonbury, United Kingdom}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox museum

|name = Somerset Rural Life Museum

|image =Abbey Tithe Barn, Glastonbury 1.JPG

|established = 1975

|location =Glastonbury, Somerset

|map_type = Somerset

|map_caption = Location within Somerset and the United Kingdom

|coordinates = {{coord|51.1485|-2.7140|display=inline,title}}

|visitors =

|director =

|website =[https://www.swheritage.org.uk/ Museum Website]

{{Infobox designation list

| embed = yes

|designation1_offname = The Abbey Barn at Abbey Farm

| designation1 = Scheduled Monument

| designation1_date = 12 January 1932

| designation1_number = {{Listed building England|1019389}}

| designation2_offname = Abbey Tithe Barn including attached wall to the east

| designation2 = Grade I

| designation2_date = 21 June 1950

| designation2_number = {{Listed building England| 1057953}}

}}

}}

The Somerset Rural Life Museum is situated in Glastonbury, Somerset, UK. It is a museum of the social and agricultural history of Somerset, housed in buildings surrounding a 14th-century barn once belonging to Glastonbury Abbey.

It was used for the storage of arable produce, particularly wheat and rye, from the abbey's home farm of approximately {{convert|524|acre|km2}}. It is not believed to have stored produce offered as tithe payments and is therefore referred to as an abbey barn rather than a tithe barn.{{Cite web|title=The Abbey Barn|url=https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-rural-life-museum/explore/abbey-farm/the-abbey-barn/|access-date=2021-12-09|website=Somerset Rural Life Museum|language=en-US}} Threshing and winnowing would also have been carried out in the barn.

The barn which was built from local 'shelly' limestone, with thick timbers supporting the stone tiling of the roof. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building,{{NHLE|grade=I|desc=Abbey Tithe Barn including attached wall to the east|num=1057953|date=21 June 1950}} and is a Scheduled monument.{{NHLE|grade=Scheduled monument|desc=The Abbey Barn at Abbey Farm|num=1019389|date=12 January 1932}} In 2011 the {{convert|14|ft|m}} high doors of the barn were replaced by local craftsmen using materials and traditional techniques and materials to a design based on The Bishop's Eye in Wells.{{cite news|title=History in their making|newspaper=Mendip Times|date=May 2011 | page=6}}

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539 the barn was given to the Duke of Somerset. By the early 20th century it was being used as a farm store by the Mapstone family. In 1974 they donated it to Somerset County Council and between 1976 and 1978 underwent restoration. It was also used as the location for the pistol duel in Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon", released in 1975.{{cite web|title=Barry Lyndon film locations|url=http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/b/BarryLyndon.html|publisher=The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations|accessdate=19 December 2011}}

The barn and courtyard contain displays of farm machinery from the Victorian or early 20th Century period. Other exhibits show local crafts, including willow coppicing, mud horse fishing on the flats of Bridgwater Bay, peat digging on the Somerset Levels, and the production of milk, cheese, and cider. In reconstructed rooms detailing domestic life in the nearby village of Butleigh, the story of one farm worker, John Hodges, is told from cradle to grave.

Outside, there is a beehive and rare breeds of poultry and sheep, in the cider apple orchard. Regular craft demonstrations and talks on farming are held, as are activities for children and families. There is a shop, tea room, car park and disabled access. The shop is run by the Friends of the Somerset Rural Life Museum.