Museum - Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester, West Sussex

Tree Dressing is a magical occasion for all the family, celebrating the importance of trees in our lives! On Sunday, 6 December and on Sunday, 13 December, we will be holding an adapted, social distanced, version of the Museum’s annual Tree Dressing event. This year, we invite you to bring a pre-decorated jam jar lantern before you arrive.... Here is a video of Lucy talking you through how to make your own Jam Jar lantern! To book your tickets, please visit the link below https://www.wealddown.co.uk/events/tree-dressing/

Come and visit the Weald & Downland Living Museum, explore 40 acres nestled in the heart of the South Downs national park and discover over 50 historic homes and buildings. The Museum is also home to ‘The Repair Shop’ and for a LIMITED time over the Winter holidays, from 16 December, visitors can take a peek inside...

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Museum very soon! Tag someone below who needs to take a trip to the Weald & Downland Living Museum! . .... . #WDLM #Museumfromhome #Openairmuseum #Livinghistory #Museum #Explore #Learn #Conserve See more

Caption this! Leave your best caption in the comments below . . . #WDLM #Captioncompetition #Captionthis

What a brilliant weekend we had here at the Museum! Thank you to everyone who attended our Tree Dressing on Sunday, we hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did! . .... . . . by Piotr Dlugaszek #WDLM #TreeDressing #Livingmuseum #Openairmusem #Trees #Nature #Chichester #Westsussex #Sussex

Lurgashall Watermill on its original site before it was dismantled and reconstructed at the Weald & Downland Living Museum in 1977. Painting by Sussex artist - David R.G. Johnston. Our watermill comes originally from Lurgashall where evidence suggests a watermill stood since the 17th century. It underwent various changes over the years modernisation and repairs and remained in use until the 1930s. After that it gradually fell into disrepair and was dismantled and rebuil...t at the museum in the 1970s. #WDLM #Watermill #Lurgashall #MuseumFromHome #Livinghistory #Chichester

Meet Green Father Christmas here at the Museum from the 18 to the 23 December! Seated in his outdoor workshop, under the branches of a tree, he is working hard to finish presents before Christmas. He has a small campfire in this outdoor workshop and his elf has decorated the area beautifully with greenery and lights. With the help of one of his elves, Green Father Christmas looks forward to meeting you, listening to what you wish for this Christmas, and selecting one of his ...green gifts for those who have made it onto his nice list. Before or after your visit to Green Father Christmas’ workshop, each guest can enjoy a spiced apple drink and biscuit from our café. There are lots of opportunities to take photos, so don’t forget to practice your smiles and tag us at #WDLM. Book your tickets today by visiting the link below! wealddown.co.uk//meet-green-father-christmas-18-to-23-dec/

Autumn colours at the Weald & Downland Living Museum! . . . #WDLM #Explore #Learn #Conserve #Livingmuseum #Autumn #Seasonal #Nature #History #Chichester #Sussex

Upper Hall from Crawley, Sussex - Dismantled in 1972 and reconstructed in 1978. This building dates from C.1500. It’s main feature is the hall on the first floor, a long open room which was possibly originally a communal meeting place. The ground floor was divided into separate rooms. The surviving structure was originally the centre of a longer building, and modern ends have been added to the exhibit to replace what had disappeared. The building is used as the Museum’s libr...ary and meeting hall. To find out more about the Upper Hall building from Crawley, visit our website by clicking on the link below! wealddown.co.uk/buildings/upper-hall-crawley/

The Museum’s collections of tools and artefacts cover a broad range of traditional rural and urban life, with a special emphasis on the building trades, building parts and materials. All items have been made or used in the Weald & Donwland region Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire and currently number about 15,000! To find out more about our artefacts and collections, visit our website! https://www.wealddown.co.uk/explore/collections/

We are pleased to announce that our shop is now...OPEN! Are you tired of shopping on the high street or struggling to find that unique gift? Make sure you check out our gift shop during your visit to the Museum! We stock an extensive selection of gifts linked to the theme of the Museum - perfect for a souvenir or Christmas present. ... We hope to see you soon! . . . . . #WDLM #Giftshop #Souvenir #Gift #Museum #Livingmuseum #Openairmuseum #Giftideas #Museumshop #Reopening #Chichester #Westsussex

Its the weekend and the weathers looking good! We are ready to welcome all of our visitors to the Museum - will you be joining us this weekend? Let us know!

The Weald & Downland Living Museum offers the perfect opportunity for a rural escape allowing you, your family and friends, to get away from the hustle and bustle of ordinary day life. The Museum encourages families and friends to put their phones away, interact, and become more sociable with one another; ready to spend time some quality time with your loved ones? Visit our website and pre-book your tickets today!... https://www.wealddown.co.uk/

The interactive nature of the Weald & Downland Living Museum boosts mindfulness from the live demonstrations of how everyday activities such as cooking and spinning were carried out in the past, to the range of traditional arts and crafts courses on offer, there is a chance for visitors to pause, reflect, slow down and learn new skills! Book your tickets today, visit our website! https://www.wealddown.co.uk/

Throwback to this time last month when we celebrated our 50-year anniversary in style! . . . #WDLM #1970s #50years #70svibes

This weekend would have been our Autumn & Countryside Show. We hope you enjoy these photo’s from last year’s event - as you can see, the weather was far kinder than this year! #wdlm #heavyhorses #harvest #autumn #countryside #countrysideandfarmlife

The Museum is a dog friendly site with beautiful woodland, period gardens, farm animals and a lakeside cafe. Each building is spread out across the rural landscape, making it perfect for families and visitors of all ages to discover and experience the sights, sounds and smells, and get a real taste for the life our ancestors lived; which truly allows you to immerse yourself into the past!

Granary from Littlehampton, West Sussex re-erected in 1970. Thought to have been built in 1731 as incised on one of the bricks the timber frame is mainly of elm infilled with brick, and the building is raised on 16 stone staddles to protect the grain from damp and vermin. Threatened with destruction due to a road scheme, it is an unusually large example, measuring 20 feet square. Used at one time as the museum shop, it is now presented as a furnished granary. To find o...ut more about our buildings visit our website! https://www.wealddown.co.uk/buildings/granary-littlehampton/

In our fast-paced world, people from all walks of life are looking for ways to improve their health and overall wellbeing through mindfulness and restful activities. The Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester offers a haven for people looking to take a deep breath and put the world on pause. The chance for relaxation and respite from the stresses of the modern world is integrated into every aspect of the visitor experience. Set in the South Downs National Park, the natural setting helps to generate a calming atmosphere and gives visitors a picture of the past through stunning architecture, providing a fresh perspective on current worries.

It’s safe to say that Autumn has arrived! Who else is looking forward to walking around the Museum in the crisp fresh air, crunching through the fallen leaves, with a nice hot drink! What are your favourite things about Autumn? Let us know in the comments below!

Many people know us for our historic buildings, artefacts and collections, but did you know that we are also a wedding venue? With the character of the museum in the backdrop, immersed in beautiful scenery, the Museum is truly unique and romantic setting for your special day. Have you had a wedding at the Weald & Downland Living Museum? If so, share your magical experiences with us in the comments below!