‘WINKHURST FARM’ RE-INTERPRETED FOLLOWING NEW EVIDENCE

 TUDOR KITCHEN PROJECT A FIRST

FOR WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM, SINGLETON, CHICHESTER, WEST SUSSEX

The first historic building to be saved and rebuilt at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex is to have an exciting new role this year.  ‘Winkhurst Farm’ is to be transformed into a daily working Tudor kitchen. This is thought to be the first project of its kind in the country. 

As part of its new role the building has been moved from its first location on the Museum’s 50-acre site in the South Downs to a new position near Bayleaf Farmhouse, the Museum’s award-winning re-created medieval farmstead.   The decision follows new evidence which shows that the building – originally thought of as a small farmhouse – was actually a kitchen or service block. 

Visitors will be able to watch a wide variety of Tudor meals being prepared, led by a fully-trained and costumed interpreter, as well as important processes such as baking, brewing and cheese making.  They will be able to sample some of the fare in a special eating area, and a modern kitchen nearby will satisfy current hygiene regulations.  A new exhibition will focus on Tudor cooking methods and domestic arrangements.  The project adds to the theme of food and farming, field to feast, that runs throughout the Museum’s work. 

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum is England’s leading museum of historic buildings, undertaking regular research into historic timber-frame structures and the interpretation of traditional buildings.  It is now known that Winkhurst was built in the 1540s, a time when kitchens were frequently separated from the rest of the house, partly to reduce fire risk.  Winkhurst’s design fits into this type, identified by distinguished vernacular architecture researcher, David Martin, of Robertsbridge, East Sussex.  Bayleaf Farmhouse would probably have had a service building very similar to Winkhurst located close by.  So the Museum has taken the opportunity to link the two.   

Richard Harris, Museum Director, also discovered that the kitchen was originally attached to another building on its south side and, to interpret it properly, a modern structure has been built to represent this: the exhibition will be housed within it. On its new site Winkhurst has been restored to its original geographic orientation.  

Winkhurst and Bayleaf were neighbours on their original sites. The two buildings were rescued from Chiddingstone, near Tonbridge, Kent in the 1960s to prevent them from destruction as the site was to be used for the new Bough Beech Reservoir.   During last winter it was carefully dismantled, in the same way as the Museum takes apart all donated historic buildings, and is currently being re-assembled next to Bayleaf farmhouse by Museum carpenter Roger Champion. 

The £60,000 scheme is largely funded by the Designation Challenge Fund.  The Museum is one of a small number of regional museums in England to be designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections.   The rest of the cost will be met by a legacy from the late Virginia Lyon, a stalwart supporter of the Museum who was a trustee and chairman of the Friends of the Museum. 

 “Winkhurst is something of an icon for the Museum, as it was the first building to be re-erected on the site, in 1969,” said Museum director Richard Harris.  “ We are looking forward to presenting this vivid and exciting project.  We believe that Winkhurst Tudor kitchen will give visitors a unique insight into the enormous effort which went into producing food for a farming family at a time when you had to be self-sufficient.”  

The Museum is open daily from 10.30 am - 6.00 pm.  General information can be obtained from the recorded information line - 01243 811348.  Visit the Museum’s website on www.wealddown.co.uk. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum is England’s leading museum of historic buildings and traditional rural life.  Over 45 historic buildings represent the homes and rural workplaces of the past 500 years in South East England. The Museum, which is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections, runs a lively programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts.  There is also a café using the Museum’s own produce and a shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum. Further information: contact Operations Director Gail Kittle
Tel: 01243 811481
Fax: 01243 811475
Email: gkittle@wealddown.co.uk.

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