The two contrasting buildings overlook restored gardens, providing a setting for a rural collection in an urban environment.

[9][10] To mark their 70th year, the museum worked with artists and writers from different communities on 51 Voices,[11] enabling responses to objects connected to 1951 in the collections.

The Museum houses designated collections of national importance that span the full range of objects, archives, photographs, film and books.

The collections hold over 25,000 objects, almost all of which are on display, and which provide a material record of rural England covering 1750 to the present day.

It cares for a collection of livestock portraiture, representations of rural life, agricultural hand tools, ploughs, farm machinery, sewing machines and other equipment.