Some information about the Kent museum of Rural life:- The 28-acre site that now constitutes Kent Life has evolved through the years from the historic Sandling Farm, an area that formed part of the wider Allington Castle estate in the mid 16th century - stretching some 461 acres - and was owned by Thomas Wyatt. The Allington Castle estate, later known as the Cobtree estate, was the property of Tyrwhitt-Drake family. It passed to the only son Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake who inherited it after his father passed away in the early 1900's. An eccentric man, Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake established a small zoo on the grounds and it is believed that he had a fascination for the Zebra, painting black and white stripes on a donkey so he could admire it from his manor!

A charitable trust was set up for the Cobtree Estate in 1952. After Sir Garrard Tyrwhitt-Drake died childless in 1964, his estate was bequeathed to the people of Maidstone. By 1983 a joint project between Kent county council and Maidstone Borough council had created 'The Museum of Kent Life' (as it was formerly known) on the site of the old Sandling farm, and it was officially opened to the public on 6th July 1985.

The attraction was set up as a working heritage farm on which to tell the story of everything once Kentish. The preservation of the region's heritage began with the renovation of the Oast house, farmyard, gardens and Sandling House. The Vale Farm Barn was the first of the attraction's buildings from around the county to be saved from destruction and opened in 1990 having been rebuilt on site. The reconstruction of Petts Farmhouse, Ulcombe Village Hall, Lenham Cottages, Cuxton chapel and the Agricultural Store came next. These historic buildings depict a wealth of history and changes through the centuries which not only has resonance throughout Kent, but also has significance for the wider community.

Having been open to the public as a visitor attraction since 1985, Kent Life is very much part of the community that surrounds it. In more recent years the ambitious developments that have taken place have been as a result of outside investment which has breathed new life into this much-loved attraction and we can look forward to a very bright future.