Gerald Whittaker Signs

24/05/2026

Preparations are well underway for the Vintage Bus Day in on Sunday 31st May. With FREE RIDES on buses and coaches dating from the 1940s to the present day, there is something for everyone. Routes take you out and back from The Parade in central Taunton.
Join for a grand day out.
So you can plan your day, souvenir programmes can be pre-ordered online 👇or purchased now from or on North Street.
Trips include stops at and , a town circular by open-top bus, several mystery tours and the chance to ride in the first Taunton Town Shuttle minibus 40 years on.

Early online orders were despatched on 21 May.

24/05/2026

🚂🔥 Steam at Work 2026 🔥🚂
📅 Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd August

Join us for the Rural Life Living Museum’s biggest steam event of the year — and experience steam power as it was meant to be seen… at work!

Unlike traditional rallies with rows of polished engines, Steam at Work is a fully working event where engines are powering machinery, hauling loads, moving around the site, and bringing history to life across our beautiful 15-acre museum grounds. 🌳⚙️

This year’s event will feature:
🚜 Full-sized traction engines
🛣 Road rollers
🚛 Steam lorries
🎠 Showman’s engines
🚂 Miniature engines across the site
⚙️ Stationary & portable steam engines in action
🛠️
And of course, our very own railway! The Old Kiln Light Railway will be running throughout the weekend with steam locomotives and heritage diesel engines offering rides through the Museum grounds. 🚂

Don’t miss the spectacular Grand Parade of Engines each afternoon at 14:00!

Come and enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and atmosphere of working steam in the heart of the Rural Life Living Museum, the perfect way to celebrate summer with family and friends. ☀️

For more information and to buy tickets visit: www.rural-life.org.uk

📢 Exhibitor entries are welcome for full-sized engines, miniatures, and stationary engines.
To enter, please email: [email protected]

The Rural Life Living Museum is owned and operated by the Old Kiln Museum CIO, registered charity number 1200370. The Museum receives no external funding and is dependent on ticket sales and donations to continue operating. We really appreciate your support.

13/05/2026

🔥 Save the date for our Annual Fire Engine Rally! 🔥🚒

Join us on 4th & 5th July 2026 for one of our most exciting summer events, a fantastic day out for the whole family!

Expect flashing lights, sirens, red paint, and plenty of action throughout the day!

🚨 Live demonstrations include:
🔥 A dramatic rescue from the saw pit
🚂 A fire at the railway station
🐈 Saving a cat from the roof of the cricket pavilion
…and many more thrilling displays!

There’ll also be plenty of hands-on fun:
👨‍🚒 Climb into the cab of selected fire engines
🧰 Explore inside the lockers
🚒 Take a ride around the Museum on a vintage fire engine

Whether you’re a fire engine enthusiast or just looking for a brilliant family day out, this is an event not to miss!

🚒 Vehicle Owners! If you’d like to enter a vehicle, please email:
📧 [email protected]

We can’t wait to welcome you for a weekend packed with excitement and nostalgia

For more information and to buy tickets visit: www.rural-life.org.uk

The Rural Life Living Museum is owned and operated by the Old Kiln Museum CIO, registered charity number 1200370. The Museum receives no external funding and is dependent on ticket sales and donations to continue operating. We really appreciate your support.

12/05/2026

I was watching a young lad trying to fix a simple gate yesterday and he had absolutely no idea how to use a basic tool. It made me realize how much we are losing the practical skills that once made this country a leader in quality and engineering. There was a time when we took immense pride in the work of our hands and a master craftsman was a respected figure in every village. You bought things that were built to last because they were made with real heart and solid materials. It was about pride in your trade.

The modernists argue that mass production is the only way to keep things affordable and that we should embrace the speed of modern factories in 2026. They say that traditional crafts are a luxury that belongs in the past and that we should focus on the digital economy instead. But common sense tells us that when you stop making things for yourself you lose a part of your national identity. We are raising a generation that can tap on a screen but cannot fix a leak or build a sturdy piece of furniture. It is a tragedy.

Do you still value the quality of hand crafted British goods over the cheap disposable items we see in every shop today. I want to know if you believe we should be doing much more to support our local tradesmen and keep these vital skills alive for the future.

👍 Drop a YES if you support traditional trades.
❤️ Drop a NO if you prefer cheap mass production.

Agreed? 🇬🇧⚒️

09/05/2026

Happiest of 70th birthdays to Gerald! Cheers to the man who can turn rust into masterpieces, never backs down from a challenge, and somehow always has another project on the go.

From steam engines and signwriting to workshops, wagons, and lifelong friendships, your life has been built on hard work, craftsmanship, determination, and doing things properly.

A proud family man, a true engineer, a lover of steam, dogs, and tradition — and proof that the best things in life are built with patience, skill, and a lot of late nights in the workshop.

We wouldn’t have you any other way.

Happy Birthday Gerald/GW/Maetro/Dad/Gandad

01/05/2026

We’re OPEN all weekend AND Bank Holiday Monday! ☀️

Looking for something fun to do with the family? Come and join us for a day full of:
🌿 Fresh air & nature
☕️ The Market Garden Café
🎉 Fun activities for kids
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere

With sunshine on the way, it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and make some lovely memories together.

We can’t wait to see you!

For more information and to buy tickets visit: www.rural-life.org.uk

The Rural Life Living Museum is owned and operated by the Old Kiln Museum CIO, registered charity number 1200370. The Museum receives no external funding and is dependent on ticket sales and donations to continue operating. We really appreciate your support.

22/04/2026

Yep….sounds about right…

Start multiple personal projects without any form of deadline in place fully aware that I’m investing years (if not decades) before anything comes out of them.

Not entirely sure how my wife has put up with it over the years! But it is a privilege all the same- being a restorer and custodian of historic work and vehicles.

20/04/2026

20/04/2026

🚗We are proud to introduce our first ever TVR and classic, iconic bike show 🏍️

On Sunday 26th July we will be joined by TVR's from across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire TVRCC as well as a 1915 Triumph through to 50's and 60's bikes and scooters to 80's icons, 90's pocket rockets and anything in between. A day not to be missed for all engine lovers!

There will also be auto jumbles, an ice cream van, The Market Garden Café, kids activities and more going on around the museum.

Book tickets now at www.rural-life.org.uk

The Rural Life Living Museum is owned and operated by the Old Kiln Museum CIO, registered charity number 1200370. The Museum receives no external funding and is dependent on ticket sales and donations to continue operating. We really appreciate your support.

03/04/2026