The Friends of Ferguson Heritage Ltd. -Museums and Private Collections in the British Isles

Below is a list of Museums and Private Collections in the British Isles, approximately ordered from North to South. The approximate position of the museums is marked on the map by a yellow dot. Click on the dot to put the museum entry at the top of your page. We would love to know of Ferguson- related Museums and Private Collections not listed here. If you find one, please email the Web Editor, Alan Gregory, with as much detail as possible. The owners of Private Collections listed here all welcome visitors, and love talking about tractors with other enthusiasts, but please arrange your visit with the owner in advance- don't just turn up. In some cases, Private Collections may only be open on certain days of the year. Thanks are due to William Waddilove, Duncan M Dornan, Andrew Bell, Brian Nicholson, Steve Williams, Graham Starling, Barry Collins, Michael Spellman, John Moffit, Louise Jenks, Franne Wills, George McGhee, Elsie Cowper, Harry Henderson, Charles White, Murray Shanahan, Michael Thorne, Graham Holland, Colin Hitchcock, and K.M. for information supplied.

• Museum of Scottish Country Life

  at Kittochside, East Kilbride, Scotland G76 9HR.
  This has taken over from the now closed Scottish Agricultural Museum at Ingliston, near Edinburgh Airport. Various Ferguson tractors and equipment on display, including a Ford-Ferguson. The new site includes a 110 acre historic working farm which reflects the work of the 1950s. There are a number of Ferguson items on display in the exhibition building and in addition a TE20 and an early MF35 can be found working on the farm.

• The Ulster Folk and Transport Museum

  Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland http://www.nidex.com/uftm/
  The Ulster Folk and Transport museum ranks among Ireland's foremost visitor attractions, recapturing a disappearing way of life, preserving traditional skills and celebrating transport history. Stroll through yesteryear's countryside and a typical Ulster Town. Observe bygone crafts and view Ireland's largest transport collection. All just minutes from Belfast; make it a full day out. One of the galleries features the great son of Ulster, Harry Ferguson, including his aeroplane. HF was the first person in Britain to undertake powered flight making the first flight in the grounds of Stormont Castle. It was displayed in the Transport Zone in the Millennium Dome in London. William Waddilove

• Lakeland Motor Museum

  Holker Hall, Cark-in-Cartmell, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7PL
  1936 Ferguson Brown Model A

• Farming Flash-back

  Thorpe Hall Farm, Ampleforth, North Yorkshire. Tel:01439788793
  Plenty of fergies and other tractors as well as combines, steam engines, and implements. Steve Williams

• Top House Tearooms

  Grimsby Road, Caistor, Lincolnshire LN7 6RJ (just off the A46)
  At Top House Tearooms we have a tractor museum with Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors; a few industrial models with front bumpers and mudguards; a TEF with Ferguson reduction gearbox; and some implements. Some are restored and others are in off-farm condition. Open to tea room customers Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 11.30am to 5.30 pm thoughout the tourist season from the end of March until the end of October. Sam Plowright

• Taclataid

  Newborough, Anglesey, North Wales. Tel:01248 440344
  The museum appears to be a private collection and contains cars, motor cycles, heavy transport, stationary engines and tractors. There are three grey Fergusons as well as a couple of Massey Fergusons (plus numerous other tractors). Graham Starling

• Church Farm Museum

  Church Road South, Skegness PE25 2HF Lincs, UK Tel:01754 766658
  We have two Ferguson tractors, one diesel, one petrol/paraffin. They both date to the 1950's. One has a plough and sprayer; both are in working order.

• The Museum of British Road Transport

  Hales St., Coventry CV1 1PN www.mbrt.co.uk/
  The famous museum in the centre of Coventry. It gives an insight into the motoring history of the city which was the birthplace of the British motor industry. Features very large collections of cars, motor cycles and cycles and large gift shop. On permanent display are some of the Ferguson four wheel drive cars developed by Harry Ferguson (Research) Ltd. The museum is very supportive of, and periodically there are exhibitions featuring, their local tractor firm AGCO Ltd (Massey Ferguson) where early (and modern) Fergusons feature. Entrance is free. William Waddilove
  The Museum's Barry Collins reports the contents as:-
  • Ferguson Research flat four push rod engine, with twin Zenith carburettors
  • Ferguson Research flat four push rod engine, with no carburettors
  • Ferguson Research flat four push rod engine, with twin SU carburettors
  • Ferguson Research flat four push rod engine, with twin Weber carburettors
  • FF Developments gearbox to fit Ferguson R5/2 prototype four wheel drive car, reg no PHP 866
  • Unpublished history of Ferguson Research and FF Developments up to late 1970s (entirely concerned with cars).
  • Body engineering drawings for the R4 and R5 (part of the Walter Belgrove collection - he was chief body engineer and designer for Triumph and then Standard-Triumph cars from 1935-1955 and then worked for Ferguson Research).
  • Several dozen mainly black and white photographs covering 1940 construction of Banner Lane, aerial views, interior shots, production events, etc., mainly 1950s/1960s.
  • Various trade and enthusiast press news and technical features on TE20 and Ferguson cars.

• Irish Agricultural Museum

  Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Eire www.southeastireland.travel.ie/ Tel: +353 53428884
  Located at Johnstown Castle, on the outskirts of Wexford town, they have on display a number of '20's' and a Ford Ferguson. The exhibit includes details of the Ferguson System and highlights the fact that Harry Ferguson was an Irishman! Michael Spellman

• Norfolk Rural Life Museum

  Gressenhall, Dereham, Norfolk NR20 4DR. Tel: +44 (0)1362 860 563 Fax: +44 (0)1362 860 385 www.norfolk.gov.uk/leisure/museums/nrlm.htm and www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/your/extra/gressenhall.shtml
  All aspects of rural life can be seen in our beautiful 50 acre setting. Watch out for exciting events, demonstrations and exhibitions. Take part in quizzes, workhouse trails and riverside walks. Graham Holland

• Granary Crafts

  Brook Farm, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK IP14 3DH Tel: 01449 736363
  TE20 and 35 Michael Spellman

• Ipswich Transport Museum

  Trolleybus Depot, Cobham Road, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP3 9JD Tel: 01473 715666
  A museum with a TEF serial no. 480815. I was unable to view it as it was at the back of a bay surrounded by yet to be restored buses, trolley-buses, trucks etc. The tractor was donated on the 22nd December 1980 by Ransomes and Rapier, the crane and excavator maker, and has lain there ever since. I date it as 1955 can anyone give me a closer build date? The museum has one other tractor a DB Cropmaster. The museum is a must for bus and trolley-bus nuts. For tractor and implement buffs there is a great deal of info on Ransomes Simms and Jeffries, whose factory is close by. George McGhee

• Colin Powell’s Private Collection

  Munstone, Hereford. Tel: 01432 264285
  Located 30 miles from the M5 at Worcester, on A4103 to Hereford. Colin bought a TED 20 tractor to use on his smallholding. Now 14 years later he has a large collection of ferguson implements and accessories, also trailers, tractors, combines, spanners, sales leaflets and Mills model of T20 used to demonstrate ferguson system. The collection is housed in a purpose built building. This private collection can be viewed BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Tel 01432 264285 Ask for Colin (evenings only) NO CALLERS PLEASE. Colin Powell

• Stondon Museum and Garden Centre

  Station Road, Lower Stondon, Harlow, Beds, SG16 6JN Tel: 01462 850339
  1948 Ferguson tractor, reg no LVF 372

• Toddington Manor

  Park Road, Toddington, Bedfordshire LU5 6HJ
  www.toddingtonmanor.co.uk/
  Tel : 01525 872576 Fax : 01525 874555
  There are about 110 tractors including Ferguson Brown, most types of TE20, FE35, MF135 plus 6 or 7 Massey Harris and Wallis.Harry Henderson

• Science Museum at Wroughton

  At the old RNAS airfield. Science Museum, Hackpen Lane, Wroughton, Swindon, Wiltshire SN4_9NS
  www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/collections/subject_themes/agricultural.asp
  Tel - 01793 846200 Fax - 01793 815413
  The museum is only open for special events and it's best to phone first.
  ‘It is some years since I visited the place but one hangar was stuffed with tractors and various agricultural machinery.’ Charles White

• The Museum of English Rural Life

  The University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
  Tel: 0118 378 8660
  www.ruralhistory.org
  Website has a searchable on-line catalogue, which reveals that they have a fair quantity of Ferguson related material in their archives, including manuals, advertising literature, parts lists and various books, photographs etc. There's also a picture of their TE20 visible on-line from the catalogue. Colin Hitchcock

• Science Museum at Kensington

  South Kensington, London
  Tel: 020 7942 4000
  On permanent display is the prototype tractor that Harry Ferguson used to develop the 3-point linkage system. It was built in Belfast in 1935, apparently, and beautifully restored it is too, all painted shiny black. Murray Shanahan

• Brinsbury College of Agriculture

  Pulborough West Sussex
  Not strictly a museum but have regular summertime open days and have resident a Ferguson TE20, a original Ferguson advertising/sales aid consisting of the back end of a F35 cut open to reveal the 3 point linkage system, a nice MF 135 with a cab very similar to a Ford AP cab, a MF 230 and a pair of MF 4235s. K.M.

• Amberley Museum

  Houghton Bridge, Amberley, Arundel, West Sussex
  A very nicely restored 1966 Massey Ferguson 135. K.M.

• Ferguson Family Museum

  Copse Lane, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, PO40 9TL
  Tel: (0)1983 752347. E-mail: info@ferguson-museum.co.uk
  www.ferguson-museum.co.uk
  The Ferguson Family Museum celebrates the life of tractor pioneer Harry Ferguson. It depicts his life and interest in aviation, Grand-Prix racing and, of course, tractors and agricultural implements which made him famous. He was world famous for his 'Little Grey Fergie' but many people are unaware of his engineering achievements in other fields. The museum contains numerous unique exhibits and photos and Museum Curator Peter Warr, who worked for Harry Ferguson for many years, provides a wealth of information and anecdotes that bring the museum alive. This small personal museum is a must for all enthusiasts and is open by appointment at a charge of £6.50 (discounts available for groups). Location: The museum is located alongside the working farmyard of Harry Ferguson Farms Ltd at Kings Manor, Freshwater, Isle of Wight. The surrounding countryside is some of the finest in the country and the museum is only a short walk for yachtsman visiting Yarmouth Harbour as well as being close to the well-known Red Lion Pub. Groups and Clubs: The museum is also available as a venue for meetings for interested clubs and groups.

• The Coldridge Collection

  Pool Farm, Warkleigh, Umberleigh, Devon, EX37 9PQ
  Tel: 07966328600
  Michael Thorne started his tractor collection in much the same way as we all did, but he didn't stop! See the impressive inventory. This is a private collection, so ring for an appointment first.

• Bradworthy Transport Museum

  Bradworthy, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 7RW
  Tel: 01409241597
  www.bradworthy-transport-museum.co.uk
  The Ken Wilson Collection, comprising some 70 historic vehicles - lorries, vans, cars, motorcycles, tractors, farm equipment and military vehicles dating back to 1914, along with other exhibits and associated memorabilia.

Now take a look at other Museums outside the British Isles