North Ings Farm Museum
A small working farm museum in the Lincolnshire Fens with vintage tractors, farm machinery and a narrow-gauge railway, open on first Sundays.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
North Ings Farm lies in the village of Dorrington on the edge of the Lincolnshire Fens. It was used for arable and animal farming before the main site was converted for egg production in the 1960s. Until the winter of 1971 to 1972 the sheds relied on dumper trucks for transport, but that winter was so wet that a light railway was installed. The first feed train ran in November 1972 and the line was later extended to serve all 19 sheds.
The last flock left in March 1981, because egg sales no longer covered the cost of feed. After that the railway became a hobby and more locomotives were acquired. The line was extended into a circuit running from the main buildings to the lake, and in 1990, at the suggestion of the local council, the collection was opened to the public.
The museum now shows vintage tractors, barn engines, agricultural machinery, commercial vehicles and portable steam pumps. Its 600-yard narrow-gauge railway has a steam tram and a fleet of industrial diesel locomotives, including two on loan from the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum in Tywyn. The passenger carriages came from the former Abbey Light Railway in Leeds. The museum is small and opens on the first Sunday of the month from April to October.
Highlights
- Collection of vintage tractors and barn engines
- Narrow-gauge railway with a steam tram and industrial diesel locomotives
- Train rides included in the ticket
- Signal box from Holmes Yard in Lincoln
- Portable steam pumps and commercial vehicles
Permanent exhibitions
- Tractors, barn engines and farm machinery – A collection of vintage tractors, stationary barn engines, agricultural machinery, commercial vehicles and portable steam pumps.
- Narrow-gauge railway – A 600-yard circuit around the grounds with a steam tram, industrial diesel locomotives and a signal box recovered from Lincoln.
- Founded
- 1990
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £3 |
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| Children & teens | £1.50free up to age 4 · Ages 5 to 15; under 5s are free. |
The admission charge includes train rides on the railway.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
A disabled toilet is available and the train can take a wheelchair, but some parts of the museum site cannot be reached by wheelchair. Dogs are allowed if kept on a lead.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
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Admission, including train rides, is cheap for children, and under-fives are free.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Car parking is next to the museum. From the entrance gateway, follow the farm road for ½ mile, bearing left where the road forks.
The museum is in Dorrington, off the B1188 Lincoln to Sleaford road. Turn into the village at the Londis shop, follow the road through the village and under the railway bridge; the museum entrance is 300 yards on the right.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
A small café offers a limited service of tea, coffee, soft drinks, crisps and chocolate bars. Visitors may bring their own lunch.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The site is a small farm museum with a narrow-gauge railway circuit of about 600 yards around the grounds. |
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