Children love to visit our animals. There are three rare breeds of livestock that were once common to Suffolk. These are known as ‘the Suffolk Trinity’ and include the Suffolk Punch horse, Suffolk sheep, and Red Poll Cattle. Other animals to see include a fourth local breed, the Large Black pig, and varieties of goats, chickens and rabbits.

The museum’s Suffolk Punch horses can often be found hard at work recreating the age when horses were the main source of power on the land. On special days they provide cart rides for visitors.

The museum boasts a fine collection of relocated historic buildings. Edgar’s Farmhouse is a rare example of an aisled Hall with crown post roof from the 1300's. Eastbridge Windpump was used for draining land in the 1800's. Alton watermill is a traditional corn mill from the 1700's capable of driving three pairs of stones. You can see it working daily and by arrangement; our stewards are always delighted to explain its details.

Abbot’s Hall Barn, in its original position, is one of the largest tithe barns in the country and dates from the 1200's. Visitors are often amazed such an impressive farm building lies so close to a busy modern town centre.

Past farming life is represented throughout the museum site. Displays in Abbot’s Hall Barn remind us of the hard work involved in the Farming Year. Room settings show how labourers lived in the 1900's and 1950's and the Victorian schoolroom and shop settings recall old village life. A Travellers’ exhibition includes an impressive range of traditional Gypsy and Traveller vans.

Fine examples of old large machinery are sometimes used for public demonstrations of ploughing and thrashing. By today’s standards the work is slow and arduous, but for the time, they were the latest labour saving devices!