Isle of Man Guide - RAMSEY, Rural Life Museum

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Grove House and Gardens

Open:	Mar 21st - October 2008: Daily, 10am - 5pm
Price:	PRICES FOR 2008 Adult: £3.30 Child (aged 5-15): £1.70 Family (2 adults, 2 children): £8.30 Groups (adult, pre-booked): £2.60 Groups (adult, un-booked): £2.80
Disabled:	Limited Access - stairs
Location:	Ramsey
Parking:	Ample, close by in car park
Suitable:	All Ages

History

Grove House was built in the mid 1800's. Owned by Duncan Gibb, a Liverpool Shipping Merchant, as a summer holiday home for his family. When the family fell on hard times Grove House became the family home. The Gibb family lived in the house for three generations till the last of Duncan Gibb's granddaughters died. The granddaughters, Alice and Janet Gibb, wished the house and grounds to be preserved as a museum after their deaths. And so Grove House passed to Manx National Heritage and remains a Victorian farm frozen in time.

Location

On Andreas Road, just outside of Ramsey on the east side of the island.
The site is well sign posted.

By Vehicle:
Along the A9 toward Andreas, located in north Ramsey.

By Bus:
Take bus routes no. 5 and 6 from Douglas and Peel to Ramsey. From Ramsey, Grove House is served by bus routes no. 17, 17A, 18, 18A, 20, and 20A to Andreas. It is possible to walk from Ramsey to Grove House along the road to Andreas, just under a mile.

By Railway:
Travel to Douglas on the Steam Railway and then to Ramsey on the Electric Railway. From Ramsey take bus routes no. 17, 17A, 18, 18A, 20, and 20A to get to the Rural Life Museum or walk on the road to Andreas, just under a mile.

The Site

Grove House

Period Rooms

Costume Room

Museum Displays

Farm Buildings

Farm Animals

Agricultural Equipment

Horse Powered Threshing Mill

Cafe

Gardens

Visiting the Rural Life Museum

Grove House offers a rare change to view a home built and furnished in the mid 1800's. Many of the main rooms still hold onto a way of life, now long gone. The Gibbs collected many things over their lifetime in the house and much of it is on show to the public through the rooms they lived in and rooms set up for display. The museum has a section set out with replica toys of the period for the children of today to play with.

During the times the Gibbs lived in the house, they kept a variety of animals. The farm still supports animals and has quite a few Manx Loghtan sheep, ducks and chickens. The Gibbs also kept bees and through a clear plastic case the life of bees kept by the museum today can be viewed.

Outside the main house and museum lie many farm buildings with a range of equipment. Most of these items are expected, plows, carts, and other farming equipment from the Victorian Era. Though there are other items which baffle, including a metal box shower?

The Rural Life Museum (also known as "The Gibbs of the Grove" and "Grove House") is a good day out for the whole family and something not to miss.

Events

Dates:	Sunday 29 June 2008
Description:	Edwardian Day at the Grove Rural Life Museum from 10am until 4pm. Costumed demonstrations, Edwardian cookery demonstrations, garden croquet, pastimes, magic lantern show, vintage vehicles and music in the gardens. Grove Rural Life Museum, Ramsey.
Event information supplied by the Isle of Man Department of Tourism & Leisure (01624 686766)