Rutland County Museum

The Rutland County Museum is the perfect introduction to England's smallest county.

The "Welcome to Rutland " gallery is a guide to the history of Rutland and leads into displays of archaeology, history and an extensive rural life collection. The refurbished area also contains a new shop and study area.

The museum has grown over the years. Twice its Friends, aided by grants from Museums & Galleries Commission, have provided funds to purchase and fit out additional premises, first the Stable block, now the new gallery, and reserve space, and then No 2 Catmose Street, adjacent to the museum. Here the Colonel Noel Suite, with its meeting room and kitchen facilities, was opened in May 1995. Friends have also purchased many items for the museum's permanent collections.

In the riding school, with its roof of Baltic timber, the displays illustrate the archaeology of Rutland, and its rural trades and occupations, domestic life and agriculture. They are strong in the tools and equipment of village tradesmen - wheelwright and carpenter, the blacksmith and farrier, the cooper, shoemaker tinsmith, the plumber and decorator. The local brewery is not forgotten. The veterinary care of livestock is covered, and there is a simulation of a farm kitchen at the turn of last century, with fittings from local buildings.

Special exhibitions, of the work of local artists and crafts people are an added attraction.

In the courtyard which links the buildings, farm implements are currently displayed. Here and elsewhere, many objects on open display are accessible to the visually impaired or physically disabled visitor. The public also makes extensive use of the Museum's Rutland photographs and archive sources.

In 2007 a new garden has beed created where ther was previously an overgrown neglected area. Here you can sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.