Armstrong's Household and Farming Museum
Private museum at North Charlton Farm with a farmhouse kitchen, dairy, wartime memorabilia and a nursery, showing Northumbrian country life.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Armstrong's Household and Farming Museum was set up in the 1980s by Sylvia Armstrong at North Charlton Farm, near Alnwick. She began collecting when she realised that many people were throwing away things they no longer wanted, and that the history of the area would be lost as a result. Over about forty years the collection grew through the family's own efforts and gifts from local people. Sylvia Armstrong received an MBE in 1999 for her services to the museum, and the family gives much of the museum's proceeds to charity.
The displays are set in farm buildings and show everyday life in and around a traditional working farm in the last two centuries. Visitors see a farmhouse kitchen with a black range and utensils, a milking parlour with butter churns and separator, a washing room full of wash-day equipment, and an agricultural display with tools, harness and manuscripts. There is Second World War memorabilia, including uniforms, ration books and items belonging to Land Girls who worked in Northumberland, and a nursery with christening robes, toys and a small wooden crib. Examples of local needlework, including proggy and hooky mats, complete the collection, and an archive holds farm catalogues, account books and papers on land and farm sales.
Highlights
- Farmhouse kitchen with black range and utensils
- Milking parlour with butter churns and dairy equipment
- Second World War memorabilia, including Land Girl items
- Nursery with toys, games and christening robes
- Northumbrian needlework and farm archive
Permanent exhibition
- Household and farming collection – Room displays of a farmhouse kitchen, milking parlour, washing room, agricultural tools, Second World War memorabilia, a nursery and Northumbrian needlework.
- Operated by
- Armstrong family
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £4 |
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| Children & teens | £1 |
Admission is £4 for adults and £1 for children. All proceeds go to charity.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
The nursery, with its collection of games, toys and children's clothes, is described as a favourite with children.
Getting there & parking
The museum is at North Charlton Farm, Chathill, near Alnwick.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Clubs and organisations can arrange private party visits outside normal hours by appointment. |
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