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In
the village of Lanreath, 5 miles north west of Looe off the B3359
there is the opportunity to enjoy farming and village life from
years ago.
The
Farm and Folk Museum is run by John and Lila Facey. It started as
a hobby for former farmer John back in the 1960s and rapidly grew
into a popular Cornish Attraction.
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| Enter
the museum's kitchen |
Stepping
into the museum you immediately feel that you are turning back the
hands of time. You walk straight into an old fashioned farming kitchen.
You can almost imagine pasties being cooked on the genuine Cornish
Range.
"The
Cornish range stove has the name of 'Hawkes of St Austell' on it.
It was behind an old cooker, that was going to be replaced,"
explains Lila. "
The
covers behind the cooker were taken away to reveal this old Range.
We had a phone call one day to say if we could come and pick it
up straightaway then we could have it for the museum."
There
are rarities that show family life from a by-gone era wherever you
look at the museum.
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| The
fireplace was moved and rebuilt brick by brick |
"The
old fireplace was in a derelict farm house up the road in Lanreath,"
says Lila. "When we thought about having a large display in
the village our family took the fire place to pieces and brick by
brick rebuilt it here in the museum."
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| Item
No19 is an original pressure cooker |
One
of the first pressure cookers is housed here, along with countless
amounts of pots and pans that bring memories flooding back for many
people.
"The
washing machine must be nearly 100-years-old now," says Lila.
"An inventor had been watching the ladies of years ago using
the dolly pegs and came up with the idea for this washing machine
which would make the dolly pegs turn both ways."
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| One
of the first washing machines |
It
might have made life a bit easier at the time but you had to use
a bar of soap and still had the problem of needing to use hot water.
The
museum started as a collection of farm machinery owned by John Facey
in the 1960s.
"We
aim to say we collect anything and everything, so usually we have
something that will suit most people," smiles John. "When
I first started out I was collecting tractors and engines. I soon
learned that was a mistake as it is purely a specialists market
so I extended my collection to include all sorts of items."
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| John's
shed where the museum started |
You
really will find something for everyone, old radios, television
sets, kitchen ware and of course plenty of tractors, and an old
generator too!
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| These
generator powered various parts of Cornwall in the past |
"This
generator that was first used in Polperro in 1931," explains
John. "It wasused by a private company. It came to Polruan
eventually and was used by the harbour commissioners. I was delighted
when we were offered it for the museum."
Other
information
Opening
hours: Easter to end of Oct: daily.
Take
a walk around the village of Lanreath
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