Usk Rural Life Museum

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New Building Project Completed After several months construction work the new buildings at the museum have been completed by our contractors ‘Bolter’s Contractors Ltd’. The new facilities greatly improve those available to visitors. Beyond the new stone-faced perimeter wall we now have a new wide-span display barn, a room to entertain school parties and small groups of visitors and new toilet facilities.	The buildings have been funded through the Rural Development Plan for Wales, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. The meeting room is available for hire (for details please contact Rita at the museum on 01291 673777). The display barn has been fitted out with existing and new displays.
Interior of the new barn	New community room

Arrival of the model cow.	A "Friesian cow" is a recent arrival at the Usk Rural Life Museum. It is a life-size milkable Friesian model which will form part of a new display on dairying. The picture shows the animal being welcomed to the museum in New Market Street by its new President, David Morgan. The cow will help children learn about the way in which milk and other dairy products are produced. Its purchase was funded by a grant from CyMAL, an agency of the Welsh Assembly Government responsible for museums, archives and libraries in Wales.

Japanware Fun at Usk Rural Life Museum Children and adults enjoyed the Museums Japanware Fun Session. Japanware plates were painted and plaques created. All had chance to see the exhibition, which has been on loan from Pontypool Museum, as part of a CyMAL funded project. A new exhibit is a restored general purpose, light, two wheeled cart painted in traditional red and blue colours. It is about 100 years old.	Download the museum's Annual Report for 2009. The museum has been awarded Museum Accreditation by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The MLA’s Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for all museums in the U.K. Those which receive Accreditation prove that they have measured up, meeting guidelines on how they are run, how they look after collections and the services that they provide to visitors.

New Volunteers We are always seeking new volunteers prepared to assist e.g. with manning our box office and greeting visitors, updating records, preparing displays, conservation or routine maintenance. If you are interested in joining our team and are able to spare a few hours each month to help, please telephone our administrator Angela Bowyer on 01291 673777 or John Evans on 01291 671277. No previous knowledge or experience is required, at first, a new recruit usually shares duty with an experienced volunteer. Alternatively e-mail us on uskrurallife.museum@virgin.net.	Sponsors The Society is grateful for recent donations from the following organisations. The Friends of Usk Rural Life Museum Llangattock-Vibon-Avel & District Ploughing and Agricultural Society CyMAL: Museums, Archives and Libraries Wales. The funds will be used to maintain our education programme.

Past Events A newcomer to the museum made his first public appearance at a reception for ‘The Friends of Usk Rural Life Museum’ on 11 April 2006. The new addition, a life-sized mannequin of a cobbler enhances the recreation of a mid-20th Century cobblery in the gallery area of the museum. The mannequin is affectionately known to volunteers as ‘Dai the Last’. His appearance in the museum has been generously funded by ‘The Friends’ and he was unveiled at the reception by past chairman of the Rural Crafts Preservation Society Euphan Tennison.

Forgotten Crafts Exhibition A craft fair and display was held in May 2006.	The Link Age Project School children interview older Usk residents.
The Malt Barn, New Market Street, Usk, Monmouthshire, NP15 1AU.	Telephone 01291 673777 E-mail info@uskmuseum.org.uk