Usk Rural Life Museum

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New this year is a restored general purpose, light, two wheeled cart painted in traditional red and blue colours. It is about 100 years old. The cart was donated by a Mrs Francis of Langstone. Two volunteers have done the restoration, Peter Rennie and John Morgan. A display of old pharmacy artefacts has also been produced by volunteers. There is a display of pictures of Cefn Illa, the local convalescent home which burnt down in the 1970's.	The museum remains open every day during the summer months – 10.00 to 17.00 during weekdays, 14.00 to 17.00 at weekends. We are pleased to say that Ann Mansell will remain with the museum on a part-time basis for the foreseeable future, spending two days at the Usk Museum and two days working with Pontypool Museum, this partnership arrangement being funded through a grant from CyMAL, the Welsh Assembly body responsible for museums. This will enable the Usk Museum to continue with many of its education and community activities. One of those activities will be a series of Summer Fun Days for schoolchildren during the summer holidays.

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. 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.

Museum officers and members gathered round the cake at the celebration of 25 years of the museum in Usk.	Local Walks Cards The museum is now selling a series of local walks cards devised by Usk resident John Tallet. John has 20 walks beginning and ending at Usk ranging in length from 2 miles to 14 miles in length. The walks are sold from the museum as a series of A4 illustrated cards, laminated to ensure that they are weatherproof. Each card costs ninety pence.

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 06. 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 uskrurallife.museum@virgin.net