About Us
History of the Museum
The Farmland Museum started out as bits of broken pottery kept in a shoebox by four-year-old Craig Delanoy in the village of Haddenham in 1969.
As Craig’s collection expanded, it became a museum, opening for one Sunday a month and was run solely by volunteers under the curatorship of Mike and Lorna Delanoy (Craig’s parents). They received MBEs for their service to museums and for raising money for good causes.
The collection continued to grow, and after being in Mike and Lorna’s garden until the early 1990s (main image), the museum was moved in 1995 to the site where Denny Abbey stands, just off the A10 between Cambridge and Ely. It re-opened in 1997 in renovated farm buildings with a new education block. The museum collection covers village and farming life of rural Cambridgeshire with objects ranging from a large combine harvester in the cart shed, to a packet of tiny buttons in the village shop.
Since then, The Farmland Museum team has taken over the day-to-day running of Denny Abbey and buildings, including a 1940s farmworker’s cottage, complete with outdoor privy, re-creating what life was like for a farmworker’s family.
Denny Abbey itself was lived in by three different religious orders (and owned by 4!) until Henry VIII closed it and sold off the building and surrounding land. The Abbey as we know it today survived thanks to the Countess of Pembroke’s foresight at converting it into dwellings. Since then, farming families lived in the former medieval church until the early 20th century.
Other interesting features of the museum include displays about basket making, a farriers, an early 20th-century typical village shop and a dairy. The museum also has a recreation of a fenman’s hut.
Our Purpose
At Denny Abbey and The Farmland Museum, our purpose is to care for objects and share the stories of the people who lived and worked here. Through exhibits, objects, and learning programmes, we retell 850 years of farming, community, and life in the Cambridgeshire Fens.
The site consists of two main parts: Denny Abbey, a unique Grade 1 listed medieval monastic building owned by English Heritage, and managed by The Farmland Museum, and The Farmland Museum, housed in historic farm buildings with an extensive collection of exhibits and displays.
Together, the museum and abbey allow visitors to experience what life was like for Fenland residents before the mechanisation of farming transformed it forever. We offer a family-friendly experience blending history, learning, and creativity. It’s the perfect day out for all ages!
Visit us
Volunteer with us!
The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey relies on an amazing group of volunteers to deliver our activities and keep us up and running – and we’re always looking for more!
Do you have time and skills to share? Whether you want to meet new people, learn something new, or put your expertise to use, we have a role for you. From delivering guided tours, to helping with school visits or serving customers in the cafe – there’s something for everyone.
We offer training, development opportunities, and a rewards programme, plus a welcoming community. Even a small amount of time makes a big difference, so please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!
We also welcome enquiries about becoming a trustee to help shape the museum’s future.
Contact us to find out more!
We have a range of volunteering opportunities available at our museum and some of these are detailed below. Volunteers also govern the museum, as our board of Trustees. Many volunteers hold multiple roles at different times and once working at the museum start to gain confidence in taking on new skills.
Café volunteers
While the museum employs seasonal staff to run the café, there are times, especially on event days, when we need more people! All cafe volunteers will be trained by the museum to work in a food preparation and serving environment.
Collection volunteers
Volunteers help to ensure that our collection is correctly stored and maintained and are specially trained by museum staff and other experts in the handling, cleaning, cataloguing and, if appropriate, restoration of the items in our extensive collection.
Education volunteers
The Museum is supported in the planning and delivery of school sessions, reminiscence sessions and family activities in school holidays and on event days by a team of experienced volunteers.
Event day volunteers
We run a number of special event days each year, which are usually the busiest days of the season. On these days, we ask volunteers to undertake roles which may vary from their regular role, for example: car park marshalling, clearing café tables, photography or stewarding.
Gardening volunteers
Our beautiful and tranquil setting is one of our most valuable assets. This is thanks to our volunteers who take ownership for maintaining grounds, cottage garden & allotment.
Maintenance volunteers
Due to the nature of the museum environment, our buildings and fixtures are often in need of cleaning and repair. Our maintenance team work together to ensure safety.
Specialist volunteers
Sometimes volunteers have specialist skills, from IT to graphic design, or data protection. Talk to us to see how these could be used to support the museum.
Tour Guides
With a passion for history and storytelling, our volunteer Tour Guides explain the history of Denny Abbey to visitors.
Visitor Welcome volunteers
Our admissions kiosk is the first point of contact for our visitors and as such, it is vital that there is always someone in there during museum opening hours. Volunteers work in there to welcome visitors, sell tickets, provide information and look after the gift shop.
Our Education programme is thriving, welcoming many schools each year to explore Fenland farming, Tudor times, WWII, and much more!
To make these school visits as engaging and memorable as possible, we’re on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to lend a hand on visit days.
If you love history, learning and inspiring young minds, we’d love to hear from you!
Find out more about our education work here or contact our Education Officer, Beth at beth.keeley@farmlandmuseum.org.uk
Are you passionate about history, culture, and storytelling? Join our team as a volunteer tour guide! This is a fantastic opportunity to share the rich heritage of Denny Abbey with visitors of all ages, bringing history to life through engaging tours and fascinating insights.
No prior experience is needed — just enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. We’ll provide full training and support.
If you love connecting with people and making history memorable, we’d love to have you on board! Contact us for a chat or find out more about Denny Abbey here
Are you friendly, outgoing, and passionate about creating great experiences? We’re looking for Visitor Welcome Volunteers to be the first point of contact for our guests.
In this role, you’ll greet visitors, sell tickets, answer questions, and share information about our exhibitions and events.
It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, develop your communication skills, and be part of a vibrant museum community. Full training is provided — all you need is a warm smile and a love for helping others. Come and make a difference with us! Contact us to for a chat to find out more.
Looking to make a difference? Whether you’re a company interested in Corporate Volunteering, a family wanting to spend quality time together, or a group of friends eager to support a charity for the day — we’d love to welcome you!
Every offer of help means the world to us and makes a real impact.
Get in touch to learn more about how you can get involved!
Accredited Museum
The Farmland Museum is proud to be a fully Accredited Museum, part of a scheme managed by Arts Council England that sets national standards for UK museums. To qualify, museums must meet strict criteria for management, services, and collection care.
Learn more about the Accreditation Scheme on the Arts Council website.
Arts Council Accreditation
Venue Hire
Did you know, our museum is available to hire for a variety of activities and events – from workshops to family parties, film locations to business meetings.
Your next event could be here!
Venue Hire