SINGLETON, WEST SUSSEX

The new Museum Director of the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex is Richard Harris, formerly Research Director at the Museum. He succeeds Chris Zeuner OBE, Museum Director for 27 years, who died in January.

As part of a new management structure, Gail Kittle, formerly marketing officer, becomes Operations Director with responsibility for daily management of the commercial and administrative functions of the Museum.

Richard Harris, who comes from Worcestershire, has for 23 years been responsible for developing the research and interpretation of the exhibits at the Museum, England's leading museum of historic buildings established on a 50-acre site in the South Downs over 30 years ago.

After reading economics at Cambridge, Richard Harris became interested in architecture and studied at the Architectural Association, receiving the AA Diploma in 1975. Between 1968 and 1974 he worked for Freddie Charles, at that time one of the leading exponents of the study and conservation of timber-framed buildings. He also worked for Avoncroft Museum of Buildings at Bromsgrove. In 1975 the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum employed him as part-time assistant to Roy Armstrong, the Museum's founder, and three years later he took over Dr Armstrong's title as Research Director.

In 1978 his book Discovering Timber-Framed Buildings was published by Shire Publications: it remains in print as an indispensable introduction to the subject. His other published output ranges from exhibitions on aspects of traditional buildings to academic articles.

Over the years the Museum has developed a national reputation for the quality of its work in the building conservation field and has pioneered new techniques in dismantling and re-erecting historic vernacular buildings. Richard Harris' first important project at the Museum was the dismantling and re-erection of the house from Walderton in 1980-82, which was the subject of a BBC Chronicle programme. Other ground-breaking projects were the furnishing and equipping of Bayleaf farmstead, which opened in 1989 and the dismantling and reconstruction of Longport farmhouse from the Channel Tunnel Terminus site, in 1992-94.

Richard has played a major part in developing the Museum's building conservation training programme - a leader in its field - and introduced the MSc in Timber Building Conservation taught at the Museum and validated by Bournemouth University. He has also been instrumental in developing the Armstrong Library at the Museum, one of the biggest libraries devoted to vernacular architecture in the country.

Richard Harris, who lives in Primrose Hill, London, is married to Judy Rich and has a son, William, aged 16.

Gail Kittle joined the Museum two years ago as marketing officer. She holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and previous posts have included the directorship of a firm of bespoke furniture makers and self-employed consultancy in strategy, finance and marketing. She is married to a farmer and has two daughters aged six and eight: they live in Storrington, West Sussex.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits from town and country. It was recently Designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Visitors can discover the medieval farmstead, the working watermill producing stoneground flour, the 16^th century market hall, a delightful pair of 19^th century whitewashed cottages, the fascinating hands-on exhibition about traditional building techniques, historic gardens and farm livestock.

In addition to the buildings the Museum takes a special interest in nurturing rural skills and countryside crafts, growing thatching straw, producing hazel spars for thatching, milling flour, maintaining coppice woodland and marketing underwood products.

Delicious food is provided by the café next to the millpond and there is a well-stocked museum shop where you can browse books on countryside and buildings themes. Find out more about the Museum by visiting our website on www.wealddown.co.uk.

The Museum is open daily from 10.30am - 6.00pm. Admission charges are £7 for adults and £4 for children with discounts for families, groups and over 60's.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum. Further information: contact Museum Director Richard Harris or Operations Director Gail Kittle
Tel: 01243 811363
Fax: 01243 811475
Email: marketing@wealddown.co.uk.

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