‘IMAGES OF BAYLEAF'

A DELIGHTFUL EXHIBITION SHOWCASING
THIS BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC FARMHOUSE

Weald & Downland Open Air Museum
31st July – 12th August 2007

One of the most beautiful and iconic buildings at England’s leading museum of historic buildings will feature in its own exclusive exhibition this summer. Bayleaf farmhouse, an original timber-framed hall house dating from the 15th century, will be the exclusive focus of an exhibition entitled ‘Images of Bayleaf’, which runs from Tuesday 31st July until Sunday 12th August at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester.

Bayleaf farmhouse was presented to the museum in 1968, rescued from the site of Bough Beach Reservoir in Kent. The building has been carefully restored to its original form, and is now complete with gardens, farmyard, an orchard, a shaw (small area of woodland), and replica period furniture, to illustrate how it might have looked around 1540. The distinctive timber-framed design and surrounding foliage make the farmhouse an archetypal image of historic rural England, and its picture has featured as a showcase for the museum on many occasions, as well as being photographed by thousands of visitors!

During the exhibition, which will be held in the Downland Gridshell Jerwood Space, visitors will be able to enjoy all types of images of Bayleaf, from watercolour paintings to jigsaws, wood engravings, models, a crocheted wall hanging, rugs, a tapestry, drawings, photographs, and even tea towels! Gordon Rushmer, local artist and regular Museum course tutor, is curating the exhibition and has been delving into the archives for material. Works have been gathered from amateurs and professionals, course tutors and their students - in fact from whomever and wherever works can be found. Some exhibitors’ work will be available for sale. More…

The Museum has also added to the collection from its own archives, with items such as horse brasses, guidebooks, and postcards. There will be an accompanying scrolling presentation featuring additional images of the building being re-erected right through to some delightful later images from the Museum’s digital archive.

Younger visitors will be able to visit the children's art corner to have a go at drawing their own images of Bayleaf. The Museum’s Interpretation Team will be busy in the farmhouse itself during the exhibition re-creating daily life from Tudor times, and there will be a programme of free interpretative guided tours of Bayleaf and its surroundings.

Entries are still being accepted for the Exhibition until 14th July, and anyone with an item of interest should contact Rebecca Osborne, Adult Education Officer at the Museum on 01243 811931. The Museum is open for the ‘Images of Bayleaf’ Exhibition and every day this summer from 10.30 am - 6.00 pm. Admission charges are: adults £8.25, over 60s £7.25; children £4.40, family ticket £22.65. Group rates are also available.
 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen. The Museum runs a well-established programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts.  There is a café which uses the Museum’s own flour and a shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes.  The modern Downland Gridshell houses the Museum’s building conservation centre and artefact collection. There is a daily tour at 1.30pm when the Museum is open, and an appointments system for visits to the collections for research purposes.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum. For further information call the Museum information line on 01243 811348 or contact Cathy Clark, Marketing Officer

Tel: 01243 811014.
Fax: 01243 811475
Email: marketing@wealddown.co.uk.

Full details about the Museum and its activities can be found at www.wealddown.co.uk 

[Back to News Archive]