Wagons, carts and carriages

The Museum of English Rural Life holds the national collection of English farm wagons. It is made up of four carts, twenty two wagons and one timber carriage. The collection ranges in date from around 1780 up until 1939.

Farm wagons

Our collection of farm wagons cover most of the South and East of England, ranging from Cornwall to Lincolnshire.

Each of these unique vehicles represents the skill and creativity of their makers. They reflect the status and traditions of their owners as well as the crops, landscapes and climate for which they were designed.

When tractors and trailers became more common, wagons were often left to rot in hedgerows or barns. Now, many survive in museums or private hands. Former curator Geraint Jenkins built up this collection to show the importance of regional variation, pioneering the study of rural collections and their preservation in museums.

Carts and carriage

Farm carts were used to transport small quantities of material around farms and to other places. Carts are distinguished from wagons by their two wheels and shorter length.

Our only carriage is a timber carriage, which was used for the sole purpose of transporting logs.

Find out more

All of our wagons, carts and carriages can be found in our online databases as well as in person at the Museum.