Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester - 24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage

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December 2 2008

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Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Chichester

		Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Singleton Chichester PO18 0EU West Sussex England
Weald and Downland Open Air Museum

Collection details
Agriculture, Architecture, Archives, Industry, Social History

Facilities

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Contact details
General information (Tel) : 01243 811348
General information (Fax) : 01243 811475
E-mail : office@wealddown.co.uk
Website : www.wealddown.co.uk

Open
Open throughout the year, winter opening times vary, call or see website for details. Opening times 10.30am - 6pm during British Summer Time, 10.30am - 4pm rest of the year.

Closed
3 January to 16 February closed Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri. Closed 24 & 25 December 2008

Admission charges
Adults £8.50
OAPs £7.50
Children £4.50
Family £23.30
Group adult rate £6.85
Group child £2.80

Discounts

English Heritage
Museums Association

Description
The leading museum of historic buildings in England, designated by the Government for its outstanding collections of national importance. Winner of the Museum of the Year, Community Museum of the Year and national awards for interpretation and education. Set in 50 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside, this is a very special place to wander amongst a fascinating collection of nearly 50 historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th century, many with period gardens, together with farm animals, woodland walks and a picturesque lake.

Collections description
Rescued from destruction, the buildings have been carefully dismantled, conserved and rebuilt to their original form and bring to life the homes, farmsteads and rural industries of the last 500 years. Wander through these exhibits at your leisure - a majestic timber framed farmhouse from Kent; a striking market hall from Hampshire; a Victorian school; a medieval shop; carpenters, plumbers and brickmakers workshops; barns; a granary and a tread wheel from the South Downs. Many of the interiors have been furnished, recreating the way the buildings were used by their owners centuries ago: seven historic gardens show the herbs, vegetables and flowers grown to meet the needs of rural households from medieval to Victorian times. See bread, pottage and sweetmeats being prepared in the working Tudor kitchen, you may even be invited to sample the results! Pause at the working water mill where stone ground flour is produced daily, experience a recreated Tudor farm, enjoy a picnic by the millpond or a walk in the woods. Delight in the company of our rare and traditional breeds of farm livestock - working horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry. See traditional farming in action and heavy horses at work. Demonstrators regularly show their skills and everyone you meet will be happy to talk about how people lived and worked. Discover the skills of the early carpenters, find out about traditional building techniques and learn how we help to conserve rural crafts. Hens peck in the straw, woolly faced sheep chew the downland grass and Shire horses work in the fields. Enjoy the rhythm of the traditional countryside and unspoilt landscape. For a complete contrast visit the Downland Gridshell, the museum's workshop and store for supporting collections - in an amazing award-winning architectural tour de force, the first timber gridshell in Britain. Tours daily at 1.30pm. Children will enjoy the freedom to roam in safety and gain hands-on experience of the museums buildings, gardens and animals.

Key artists and exhibits
Gridshell

Articles
Summer 2008 Holiday Ideas At UK Heritage Sites And Museums
Victorian Time Travel Quiz Launched By 18 West Sussex Museums
News In Brief - Week Endinig August 3 2008
News In Brief - Museums, Galleries And Heritage News
Old Bournemouth Streets And Lost Sussex Mills Archives To Be Digitised
News In Brief - Week Ending May 20 2007
Eggciting Things To Do In Museums And Galleries Over Easter

Trails
Monks, Knights, Peasants, Merchants - A Medieval Trail
Hidden Treasure Trail For The South East

General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Parking for coaches

Collections
General guide to collections available
Specialist publications on collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Public access available to collections information

Disability Access
Events/teaching/resources for people with disabilities
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Wheelchair access to some public areas

Children and Families
Activities for pre-school children
Baby changing facilities
Events and resources for children and families
Picnic area

General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students

Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available

Facilities
Cafeteria
Facilities for private functions and events
Library
Licensed for weddings
Meeting room available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Picnic area
Refreshments
Research facilities for academics
Shop
Study facilities


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Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.