The museum was founded in 1976 and opened to the public in 1981. It rescues and restores common English buildings from the Chilterns, which might otherwise have been destroyed or demolished. The buildings have been relocated to the museum's site, which includes
woodland and
parkland. The collection has more than 35 buildings on view including
barns, other traditional
farm buildings and houses. There is a working historic farm with farm animals. The charity's aims are to create a living landscape connecting the past to the present — people and place; preserving and interpreting the cultural heritage of the Chilterns. Buildings of interest include a 1940s
prefab from
Amersham, a reconstruction of an
Iron Age house, a
Victorian toll house from
High Wycombe, a "Tin Chapel" from
Henton, Oxfordshire and a forge from
Garston, Hertfordshire. A fine pair of cottages from 57 Compton Avenue at
Leagrave, near
Luton which started out as a
weather-boarded
thatched barn with central double doors in the early 18th century. In the late 18th century the barn was converted into two labourers' cottages. A chair factory from High Wycombe highlights the local chair making trade. There is a reconstructed WW1
Nissen hut and a reconstructed WW2
Nissen hut next to a 'Dig for Victory' allotment. The museum's collection includes 16 buildings that are held in storage and awaiting reconstruction, as and when the museum's funds permit. Among these is Jackson Studios, a
recording studio used by the influential
BBC Radio disc jockey,
Jack Jackson, who was also known as the "father of DJs". In the 1970s, the studios were set up by Jack's sons, Malcolm and John as a commercial recording studio. The studios became noted for their ‘dead’ sound, and many noted artists recorded at the studios, including
Elton John,
Ian Dury,
Dr Feelgood, and
Motörhead (who recorded
Ace of Spades there). With the advent of digital technology, the studios went out of business. The dismantled studio building is now in storage at the museum until the necessary funds can be raised to reconstruct them on-site. At the museum there are many hands-on activities and traditional skills experience days including blacksmithing, willow sculpting and weaving, straw plaiting, historic cooking and folk singing. There are many annual events including re-enactments and living history. The site has an environmentally-friendly ethos. In June 2013, the Museum won the environmental category of the Pride of Bucks award, sponsored by B P Collins. ==In popular culture==