Grundisburgh Smithy, Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket
In 2007, David Viner carried out a survey of collections of rural crafts and trades in museums, as part of a project at the Museum of English Rural Life.
This study primarily sought to create a database of information on rural crafts and trades material and related sources held in museums across the country. It was based on a definition of ‘rural industries’ as small industries carried on in country districts, dependent either upon some local supply of raw material or some local demand for the finished product, and being of the nature of craft work rather than of machine production.
Click on the links below to download a copy of the report:
Rural Crafts and Trades Collections Today. Part One – The Report
Rural Crafts and Trades Collections Today, Part Two – The Directory
Rural Crafts and Trades Collections Today, Part Three – Bibliography
This review formed part of a broader project at the Museum of English Rural Life entitled Rural Crafts Today, which saw the museum connecting the Museum’s craft collections with the people, skills and places associated with rural crafts in the countryside today. The resulting exhibition included films of individual craftspeople. Short extracts from each of the films can be viewed on the MERL Rural Crafts Today website.
