Dairyland vintage museum goes under the hammer

About 500 lots from a museum at a farm-based tourist attraction that is closing down are being auctioned on Wednesday.

The items from the Dairyland Museum, near Summercourt, are from an extensive collection of vintage farm machinery and tools from complete granite cider presses to pitchforks and scythes.

Also included is the more modern cyber-cow Clarabelle which became the attraction's first mascot, and could be milked by children.

Dairyland, one of Cornwall's major tourist attractions, announced its closure in September and gave away its farm animals to new homes after closing its doors in November.

Dairyland operated as an attraction for 49 years having been opened by farmer Rex Davey who thought people would be interested in viewing vintage machinery.

One of the largest pieces is a four-horse wheel round which was removed from Tregunnel Farm in Newquay in 1970, having been in use until about 1900.

It was powered by four horses which walked around it four times a minute to operate it as a driving stone mill and barn thresher.

The wheel formed the centre piece of Mr Davey's museum and Keith Thompson, the current site manager said he wasn't sure how it will be removed, but they will "figure it out".

He said: "There's been quite a lot of interest. We're expecting up to 400 people on the day, and then online bids as well so it's going to be a bit manic I think.

"Over the years many many families have given items to the museum, it's brought a lot of history together and sadly that's going to be broken up.

Some areas on the Dairyland site have been rented out to local families, including the farmhouse kitchen and admissions area that is to become a farm shop and cafe.

It will be run by Jen Sanders who spent last year trading on the site with a farm shop in a converted trailer.

"It went down really well with the locals so it was kind of a no-brainer that I approached them and asked to rent the farm shop and café when it was becoming available", she said.

Mrs Sanders said the museum was her favourite part of Dairyland.

"The creamery and the museum itself was a long building by the parlour. It's got an array of vintage stuff inside.

"You'll find a lot of adult clientele that came loved the museum as well. It was made by Rex Davey's family and it's been there for a long time.

"Hence the reason I'm hoping to bid on a few lots...farming implements, anything that keeps tradition alive that can hang on the wall and equally keep Dairyland alive at the same time," she said.

An indoor play area called the Bull Pen has also reopened and there are plans to host events, including the circus.

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