Museums
The Mower Museum
The mower museum is home to the largest collection of lawnmowers in the south east. A collection of over 50 mowers dating from 1800's. Added to this is a display of garden tools.
One of the most unusual mowers is a sit-on "swan-neck" which was manufactured in Maidstone.
The lawn mower was invented by Edward Budding in 1830. Budding worked in a cotton mill and he designed a machine to trim tufts off cloth, thinking laterally he decided that this could also be used to cut grass and replace the scythes and shears. Neither petrol or chain had been invented so Budding used wood and cast iron to produce a heavy cumbersome implement which only men were strong enough to handle.
Horses are measured in 'hands' (hh) a hand is 4 inches (10cm)
Horses feet are called hooves. They wear metal 'shoes' to protect against hard surfaces. Their hooves grow and have to be trimmed every six weeks - like our nails
A baby horse is called a foal. When born its legs are almost as long as its mother's
Horses can sleep standing up. Their 'knees' lock to prevent them falling over