The Farmland Museum & Denny Abbey
Where can you find stories of countesses and fighting monks, country craftsmen and farmers all in a magical setting of ancient walls and peaceful stone ruins?
The answer is that they are all brought alive at the Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey, near Waterbeach, Cambs. The site has been farmed for over 2000 years, right up to the 1950s.
History of the Museum
The Museum started out as bits of broken pottery kept in a shoebox by four-year-old Craig Delanoy in 1969. The collection grew and after being in the Delanoy's garden until the early 1990s it opened in March 1997 at its current Denny Abbey site. The collection, which now consists of over eight thousand objects, focuses on the farming of the region.
There is a stunning 17th century barn, that has been very carefully restored, which houses display on different aspects of farming such as root crops, cereals and fruit growing.
Walnut Tree Cottage probably dates from the 1860s and was occupied by farmworkers until the 1960s. It has been furnished to represent a typical farm labourer's home of the late 1940s.
Renovated pig sheds contain a dairy, blacksmith's shop, fenman's hut and basketmaker's workshop. There is also a Wheelwright's workshop and a village shop from the early-mid 20th century.
While the expert will doubtless enjoy all the equipment and machinery in its own right we have also tried to make it accessible to the increasing numbers of people, especially the younger generation, who are not familiar with farming.
Thus the younger museum visitor can also enjoy the many hands on activities and entertaining interactive on site.
History of the Abbey
Denny Abbey is unique in that it is the only religious site in England to have been occupied at various times by three different monastic orders.
Today it is an architectural jigsaw of windows, blocked doorways and arches. Inside, the pieces begin to fit together as visitors stand in the crossing of a 12th century Benedictine church.
Denny was home to Benedictine monks for only ten years from 1159 until it was handed over to the Knights Templars. For this mysterious religious order, known as the 'fighting monks' because of their commitment to protecting pilgrims to the Holy Lane, the Abbey was a home for aged and infirm members of the order.
By 1308 the Templars had fallen out of favour with the king and on January 10th of that year they were arrested, taken to Cambridge Castle and then to the Tower of London.
The third religious order to occupy Denny Abbey was that of Franciscan nuns, otherwise known as Poor Clares. Their founder, the Countess of Pembroke, converted the original church into her own private apartments and built a new church, a refectory, dormitory, cloisters and other buildings which have not survived.
The Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536 signalled the end of religious life at Denny; two years later, all the nuns had left. The Countess of Pembroke's apartments and the refectory survived as they could be converted for farm use - the rest was destroyed.
The estate subsequently passed through the hands of many generations of farmers until the early 20th century, when Pembroke College acquired it and placed it in the care of the Ministry of Works, now English Heritage.
At the Farmland Museum...
Discover farming through the ages and learn about the rural history of Cambridgeshire with objects displays and interactive for all ages.
Visit a village shop and see a magnificent 17th Century stone barn and the workshops, which include a basket maker and a blacksmith.
Explore a traditional and a Fenman's Hut.
Visit the Abbey to unravel the many different stories now told with new information boards and archaeological material, produced by the Museum with support from English Heritage and South Cambridgeshire District Council.
At Denny Abbey...
Explore this lovely abbey still featuring superb Norman interiors. At different times, it housed Benedictine monks, the Knights Templars and nuns of the Franciscan order, the Poor Clares.
See the Franciscan nuns' refectory of the mid 14th Century and the rooms converted for their founder, the Countess of Pembroke.
Learn how Denny has evolved through the centuries with our displays and children's activities.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
The Museum Opens Daily
1st April to 31st October: 12 noon to 5.00pm
NEW WEEKEND and Bank Holiday Monday OPENING TIMES 10.30am-5pm!
Gift Shop At the gift shop choose from a selection of gifts, books, toys and craft items.
Café
THE CAFE IS OPEN AT WEEKENDS and Thursdays during the school holidays
ONLY: for TEAS 11am – 4pm and, on special event days,
For LUNCHES 11am - 4.30pm.
Toilets
Toilets, disabled toilet and baby changing facilities are available.
Picnic
There are several picnic tables on site. Hot and soft drinks, ice cream and sweets are sold in the shop throughout the week.
Parking
We have adequate parking for cars, caravans and coaches.
Access:
Wheelchair access is available throughout the museum (gravel paths), and there is restricted access to Denny Abbey and Walnut Tree Cottage.
Wheelchairs are available - please ask at the ticket office or arrange before your visit.
Tours and Talks for Groups
Daytime and evening tours are available for pre-booked groups of any size. Also offer talks and object handling sessions to groups in their local communities.
Topics include the "History of the Museum and Abbey" and "Rural Life".
The Bus Services: No.9 or x9, from Cambridge Drummer Street Station to Ely.
Address:
The Farmland Museum
Denny Abbey
Ely Road
Waterbeach
Cambridge
CB25 9PQ