News Archive

[News Index] [Home]
 

Are you renovating your period property?

Homes needed for a brand new BBC2 historical property series being produced by Remarkable Television.

If you are interested in being part of the series and finding out more about the history of your house please call 0333 577 7740 or email homes@endemoluk.com with your name, and a few details of your property. (Calls from landlines are charged at 1 pence per minute and mobile costs may vary)
4/11/09
The Museum's Schools Service is one of the first organisations in the country to be awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, recognising it as a provider of high quality, safely managed educational experiences for young people. The Quality Badge is a brand new scheme, combining for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside experiences.

News Release   Link to Museum Schools Service Website
 

22/04/09
A traditional English maypole is to become a regular fixture by the historic Market Square at the Museum . The maypole will be used throughout the year at the Museum’s seasonal events and on children’s activity days, and will be officially handed over to the Museum at a lively ceremony complete with dancing around it, on Saturday 2 May.  News Release 29/04/09
A brand new activity pack suitable for children of all ages, with activities to carry out throughout the museum site. Get your copy in the shop on arrival.

10/08/08
Heritage Open Days are a chance for us all to visit places and see buildings and monuments of historic interest and learn more about them. Some normally charge, some are rarely open to the public but all are FREE during this event which ends on the 14th  September.   This year there are 22 venues in the Chichester area.  The Museum's is offering guided tours of the award winning, inspirational Downland Gridshell.  Details 20/08/08
The fascinating history of brewing and breadmaking will be explored during a special Focus Day at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester on Sunday 14 September. The event will cover history, mysteries, and contemporary brewing and baking, with a chance to try some all-important samples!   News Release 15/08/08
Read about the work of the Interpretation Department at the Museum.  Formed in 2005 its purpose is to formalise and develop the process of communicating with our visitors to bring the Museum buildings and collections alive.  Details 26/05/08

 

The Museum recently presented a scale model of the Titchfield market hall to the village of Titchfield. The original 17th century market hall was rescued from the village of Titchfield over 35 years ago and Peter Usher, Chairman of the Titchfield Local History Society and Sepha Wood, Chairman of the Trustees of the Titchfield Community Centre were pleased to receive the model on behalf of the Titchfield community. News Release

16/05/08
Blog (Weblog or online diary) A day in the life of a Tudor housewife.  Follow interpretation assistant Jo Whites' progress through her occasional diary entries as she goes about her daily chores in the Museum's historic houses.  Today a new section is added to this website.  Go to Blogs 17/03/08
Follow the progress in the Museum's gardens, today a new section is added to this website  Garden News 17/03/08
Get Knotted!  The International Guild of Knot Tyers AGM and Show 10th and 11th May 2008.   Details 09/05/08

 

Interested in historic clothes, dressmaking or textiles?  From 7th-18th April the exhibition, 'Cutting your Cloth' will show accurate replica clothing hand made to be worn in the museums historic buildings.  Open daily from 11am to 5pm. Details 20/03/08

 

On Sunday 13 April the ‘Grow Your Own Clothes’ Focus Day will explore how clothing and fabrics were grown and made in Tudor and Victorian times. Come in your own period costumes, the activities and demonstrations will appeal to all the family, as well as those with a particular interest in history, textiles and farming.  Details 20/03/08
Two MSc courses will begin in the Autumn.  Following the success of the MSc in Timber Building Conservation and responding to industry demands we are pleased to announce an MSc Course in Building Conservation.  Details 31/01/08

 

We are delighted to announce the Museum will be the venue for several of the Continuing Education Courses organised by the University of Sussex.  An interesting range of history based topics; some of the courses will include field trips. The courses are open to anyone and completion of a course entitles participants to Higher Education “credits”, which can be used to demonstrate learning, or even to bring into longer certificate or degree programmes.  Details 28/01/08

 

We are excited to announce our new series of fascinating early evening talks for 2008 entitled Tales from the Downs and beyond... All our speakers are specialists in their field and many teach other courses for us. They will share their knowledge in a relaxed talk, with illustrations when appropriate. Questions and discussion will be welcome and refreshments will be served afterwards. Come alone, bring a friend or even a group!  Details  News Release 22/01/08

 

Newsletters  Today a new section is added to our extensive news coverage.  At regular intervals a newsletter is published to keep all staff, volunteers and trustees up to date with what is happening in the Museum.  Extracts from these newsletters that are of more general interest will be published here. 09/01/08
New for 2008 - Special Focus Days  On selected days throughout the year, our interpretation team invite you to join them for an in-depth exploration of some intriguing aspects of our rural heritage and current work at the Museum.  Fascinating days of discovery and demonstrations for all the family starting with Twelfth Night on 6 January 2008 20/12/07
News Release Local firm Kontron UK Ltd. finances travel costs to allow school children from Bartons Infant School in Bognor to take part in a year long project; part of  the Year of Food and Farming initiative.  12/10/07
Museum receives Sandford Award for Education, the citation reads:
" The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum offers first rate educational opportunities to visitors of all ages, backgrounds, interests and abilities. Not only does it play a very important part in the preservation of ancient buildings and traditional knowledge, it also has a great deal to teach us about sustainable and green living in the future."
Sandford Awards for Heritage Education 2007. in recognition of the quality education delivered there.
16/07/07

News Release Click the icon below and make your bids in the Toplots Heritage Auction for experiences and behind the scenes activities at the Museum  

09/10/07
The Museum will host the fifth Walking West Sussex Festival on 10-14 October. Set in unspoilt countryside in the glorious South Downs, the Museum, with its traditional rural buildings, is surrounded by some of the best walking in the British Isles, say organisers, Festival Walks.  
T: 01903 812727
E: festivalwalks@btinternet.com
W:
www.westsussex.gov.uk/walking and follow the links to Walking West Sussex Festival 2007.
29/06/07
News Release. We are recreating a fascinating Tudor Market Day, complete with market stalls, street traders, street entertainers, authentic Tudor fare and much more.on Saturday 25th and Monday 27th August 2007, the August Bank Holiday.  14/08/07
Returns to the Charity Commission for 2006 published.  Annual Return   Summary Information Return 11/07/07
The Museum's range of courses just grows and grows.  New courses announced for Heritage Professionals Details 04/07/07
Annual Accounts for 2006 published for The Museum, The Friends of the Museum and the Museum Endowment Trust. 29/05/07
Images of Bayleaf  A special exhibition celebrating this magnificent building on 31 July – 12 August in the Downland GridshellNews Release 11/04/07
Follow the development of fireplaces in the Museum buildings.  Details 04/04/07
The Museum is again hosting Chichester Cancer Research UK’s 5k Race for Life, on Sunday 15 July. Last year 2,000 women took part and £124,000 was raised for the charity. Further information: Diana Rowsell on 01243 811464. 29/03/07
Interested in the history of the development of the Museum?  Check the History page for interesting articles and videos.  (Also available from the Home page under Collections - History).  Details 07/02/07
A new course this year "From Hangleton to Poplar" on April 27th will take a fascinating look into the homes and daily lives or our rural ancestors and will feature six of the Museum's exhibit houses. The tutor is Dr Danae Tankard, who is currently working as a history associate on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership in conjunction with the University of Reading. News Release 29/03/007
The Museum's video team, first introduced in the Autumn 2006 house magazine have produced their first short videos and they are now available as podcasts via Apple iTunes.  Clicking this link WDOAM Podcasts will take you to the index of published videos which you can download.  If you do not have iTunes installed on your computer, clicking the link will initiate the downloading of the software.  Once installed you will be able to proceed as above.

Please e-mail your comments about this new venture to the video projects team
10/01/07
Discover the the social, historical and economic context of the Hall House from Boarhunt.  This is the second part of a study into the ten domestic houses at the Museum.  Researched and written by Danae Tankard, Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate  Details  

The first study relates to the building from Hangleton. Details
15/12/06
News Release.  Petersfield artist Gordon Rushmer celebrates 40 years of painting with a retrospective exhibition of his work at the Museum from 26 Sept until 1 Oct.  Gordon has had a long association with the museum having been the artist in residence in 2000 and has held numerous exhibitions in the past. The exhibition to be held in the Museum's historic Crawley Hall will be open to all paying Museum visitors.  17/08/06

News Release.  Museum chosen to host the Final of BBC Two's Restoration programme with Griff Rhys Jones on 17th September 2006

 

17/08/06
News Release. Museum launches brand new website specifically for teachers planning visits to the Museumwww.openairclassroom.org.uk 19/06/06
News ReleaseThe Mission Church at South Wonston, near Winchester is to be dismantled and reassembled at the  Museum. This "tin tabernacle" is a prefabricated corrugated iron building designed to serve as a temporary church until a permanent building could be provided. Visitors will be able to watch its re-erection during the summer months. 10/05/06
News Release  A pair of distinctive Sussex Cross Shorthorn heifer calves is the latest addition to the team of working animals. When they reach full size in three to four years time, they will be fully trained working animals undertaking a range of key seasonal tasks on the Museum’s open field strips.  30/03/06
Museum to Host Race for Life for Cancer Research
O
n 16th July 2,000 women will run or walk 5 kilometres in aid of Cancer Research. 

The Race starts at the Museum on a circular route which takes in the spectacular scenery of the Lavant valley and the beautiful arboretum on the neighbouring West Dean estate.  All of the participants will raise sponsorship, and we are hoping to raise an amazing £130,000!  Many of the Museum's staff and volunteers are taking part.

Since Race for Life started in 1994, over £90 million pounds has been raised for Cancer Research. 
18/05/06
News Release.  Museum embarks on exciting new education project with local schools  "The Cultural Entitlement Project". 

 

19/10/05
News Release. The University of Reading’s History and Cybernetics Departments are collaborating on a unique project to develop a state-of-the-art interactive visitor centre at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester, West Sussex.  03/06/05
News Release  The BBC Great Britons Churchill Memorial Sculpture "Song" is now on view at the Museum. Created by sculptor Paul de Monchaux "Song" is the culmination of the BBC2 series, in which Sir Winston Churchill was voted the greatest Briton of all time by BBC television viewers.  05/07/05

News Release  An Exhibition of Country Paintings by renowned Petersfield artist Gordon Rushmer at the Museum 23–29 August 2005. Gordon’s paintings have been exhibited nationally, in Europe and the USA, and he has undertaken many high profile commissions including the Royal Marines Museum, Cunard and ICI.   

14/06/05
Museum shop now offers the Gransfors Axes Ancient Collection. Beautiful replicas of historic axes which are well-proportioned, functional tools in their own right.  Details 14/11/04
News Release.  Museum shop supports local crafts people.  Beautiful and unusual gifts for Christmas.    14/11/04
News Release We are very pleased to announce that we have been short-listed in the Arts, Culture and Heritage category for the The Charity Awards 2004.  The awards recognise excellence in the management of charities, acknowledging the outstanding work and achievements of all charities, big or small, from across the UK and the tireless commitment of the people behind them.  07/06/04
News Release Major boost for historic rural artefacts collection.  Museum welcomes grant from Designation Challenge Fund.  21/04/04
News Release We are so pleased to be able to continue our Special Education Needs project this year, thanks to a donation from Barclays PLC.  A series of special activity days and workshops themed around Victorians and Tudors are planned for pupils with special needs.  04/03/04
News Release New for 2004 -  Drama on the move! 03/12/03
News Release Gridshell wins 2003 Wood Award. 23/10/03
News Release New Acquisition - Gypsy Van enhances museum collection of 'living' vans. 23/10/03

First students graduate from the M.Sc. in Timber Building Conservation

Guy Bagshaw and Mark Hicks, shown here with Diana Rowsell - Training Coordinator, and Richard Greening graduated from the M.Sc. course run by the Museum in association with Bournemouth University.  Mark is a director of Border Oak the house builders in Herefordshire and Guy runs The English Garden Carpentry Company Ltd building quality garden structures- gazebos pergolas pavilions etc.

17/11/03
New appointments system allows greater access the Museums artefact collection. Details. 01/09/03
News Release  RIBA travelling architecture exhibition  visits the Downland Gridshell 28th July to August 3rd.  Elevations II features inspirational new buildings, with a particular focus on smaller projects by Sussex architects. 23/07/03

A view of Bayleaf farmhouse taken from the garden of the Winkhurst Tudor kitchen.

01/07/03
News Release. Barclays Partnership with the Museum helps children get to grips with Chaucer.  13/06/03
Hand crafted replica furniture now available through the shop.  Details 25/05/03
Gift Aid scheme introduced for admissions to the Museum.  Details 01/04/03
News Release. Barclay Special Educational Needs Project extended for a further year.                                                               07/01/03
News Release.  'Under the surface tours of the Museum'.              10/12/02

An early picture of Bayleaf from a jigsaw puzzle found in a second hand shop.  Click on the picture to enlarge.

"The Dawn of Tudor Cooking".  Cooking activities in the new Winkhurst Kitchen.
Article reprinted from the Chichester Observer Newspaper.                             
20/11/02

News Release. Gridshell wins British Construction Industry Award. 

31/10/02
News Release. Winkhurst Tudor kitchen now operational.                       23/08/02
News Release. Gridshell inspires quilt triptych.                                         03/10/02

News Release. Downland Gridshell shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling prize.     

24/09/02
News Release. Medieval Wall Panels conserved at the Museum.  17/09/02
News Release. New Curator appointed at the Museum.  17/09/02
News Release. Downland Gridshell wins a Royal Institute of British Architects Award.                                                                                25/06/02

Pendean pigsty completed.  Click on the picture to enlarge.

20/06/02
Livestock Update.    The sheep returned in April and the first lambs were bornIn May Amelia the pig arrived followed by two oxen calves that will be taught to pull ploughs and carts, as was the custom in medieval times.  More..                                      16/05/02
Pictures from the Museum March 2002                                                   04/04/02
News and pictures from the Museum February 2002  25/02/02
News and pictures from the Museum September 2001                                    21/09/01

The Museum has won yet another award for its education service, a full 
Sandford Award from the Heritage Education Trust.
A full Sandford Award is given when, in the opinion of the judges, an outstanding contribution to heritage education is being made. The Museum, England’s leading museum of historic buildings and rural life, has received a number of education awards in its 34-year history, including previous Sandford Awards and Intepret Britain Awards. More

education officer Diane Walker receiving the Sandford award

01/12/01
News Release Something special, Something out of the ordinary.  The Barclays Special Educational Needs Project 30/11/01
News Release The Barclays Special Educational Needs Project
                                                                                
06/11/01
New page added "Timber in buildings" describing the variety of timber used in the Museums building collection.                                                                      23/08/01
Chaffcutter added to list of buildings                                                           29/07/01
Pendean Farmhouse interior nears completion                                                23/08/01
News and pictures from the Museum August 2001 29/08/01

Spring 2001 article Pendean Farmhouse benefits from Designation funding added

21/08/01

Aerial view of the Museum taken by Trustee David Russell on 26 June 2001, click on the image to magnify.

 

News Release New Museum Directors appointed.

28/06/01
News Release New Woodland Craft Enterprise starts at the Museum. 28/06/01
News Release Heavy horse Rosie has a new foal!  28/06/01
News and pictures from the Museum July 2001 28/07/01
News and pictures from the Museum June 2001 28/06/01
Charlwood Open Shed is complete, see final pictures  26/03/01
Construction of the Knatts Lane Horse Whim is complete, see final pictures. 26/03/01
New Timber Storage Shed Completed 29/10/00
News Release Natural Resources of the Downs harnessed for sculpture. 
Report and pictures                                  
27/07/00
News Release New Education Officer joins the Museum 20/08/00
News Release The Versatile Flint
News Release Numeracy Spin for Museum Educational Visits
News Release Traditional Sheepfold erected with help from  Society of Sussex Downsmen  
News Release Rare rye crop harvested with heavy horses
News Release May 2000 is Museums Month - Artists and Craftsmen are inspired by the past!  
Weald and Downland museum partners the BBC in their History 2000 project. See their website www.bbc.co.uk/history for more information.  
News Release Major new grants for the Museum

[News Index] [Home]
 

Copyright © 2007 Weald & Downland Open Air Museum