Lifelong learning has been at the heart of the Museum’s aims since its founding over 40 years ago. We strive to promote the preservation of buildings of architectural or historic interest, as well as the ancient crafts, trades and manufactures of the Weald & Downland region. The courses we offer make use of our historic exhibit buildings and collections of smaller artefacts, our landscape and our regionality, giving course participants access to a unique learning environment.
Courses at the Museum
We run extensive programmes of day-schools and longer courses in Historic Building Conservation and Traditional Rural Trades and Crafts, along with a series of evening talks on a range of lively topics. Our courses are taught by current practitioners in their fields, who are enthusiastic about their speciality and are generous in sharing their knowledge and skills. Whether you are looking for a new hobby or to learn a new skill which might change your career, we have something for you. We hope you will enjoy browsing through our courses, and we look forward to taking your booking.
Introduction to Falconry – Sold Out
Dorset Button Fox Brooch
Wild Food Foraging – Sold Out
How to Draw Buildings in Pen & Ink
How to Drive Heavy Horses – Sold Out
Make a Woven Top Stool
Botanical Illustration: Culinary & Therapeutic Herbs
Willow Platters
The Roofing Square
How to Care for & Manage Heavy Horses – Sold Out
How To Repair Traditional Timber Walls & Roofs – Sold Out
How to Drive Heavy Horses – Sold Out
Dowsing Day
Painting with Yarn: An Introduction to Woven Tapestry
Stumpwork Butterflies – Sold Out
Introduction to Falconry – Sold Out
Herbal Woodcuts: Block Cutting & Printing
Relief Carving in Wood – Sold Out
Letter Carving in Wood – Sold Out
How to Shoot a Traditional Longbow – Sold Out
Weaving Weekend: Woven Tapestry for Beginners & Improvers
How to Shoot a Traditional Longbow
Make a Copper Cup
Make a Copper Ladle
Introduction to maille (chainmail) making
Make a Traditional English Longbow – Sold Out
Introduction To Nalbinding
Natural Navigation Walk – Sold Out
Introduction To Sprang
Arrow Making
Inspired by the Museum: How to Paint with Watercolours
Honey & Beeswax: Super Natural Formulations – Sold Out
History of Bee Products in Pharmaceuticals & Cosmetics
Create a Frame Basket – Sold Out
The Houses of the Weald from Medieval to Early Modern
Flax to Linen – Sold Out
Flax to Linen
How to Read Old Documents
Inspired by the Museum: Sketching Animals
An Introduction to Practical Timber Repairs
The Temperament Garden
The Stillroom
Foraged Flavours, Fragrance & Fitness
Coracle Making Weekend – Sold Out
Stumpwork: Fantastical Winged Insects
Introduction to Feltmaking
Oak Timber Framing: Wall Framing – Sold Out
Nettle Fibre Workshop: from Sting to Spin – Sold Out
Traditional Linocut Printmaking – Sold Out
Traditional Linocut Printmaking
Nettle Fibre Workshop: from Sting to Spin – Sold Out
Beekeeping for Beginners – Sold Out
How to Sharpen Tools
Wood Finishes
Copper Foil Stained Glass Workshop
Paper Marbling – Family Workshop
Paper Marbling – Family Workshop
Paper Marbling – Sold Out
Nettle Fibre Workshop: from Sting to Spin – Sold Out
Beekeeping for Beginners
Bronze Sword Casting – Sold Out
Introduction to Flint Tool Knapping – Sold Out
Copper Smelting & Bronze Axe Casting – Sold Out
Ploughing with Heavy Horses – Sold Out
Ploughing with Heavy Horses – Sold Out
Weave a Rush Garlic Bag
Weave a Rush Hat
Weave a Rush Bag
How to Draw in Charcoal
How to Date Timber-Framed Buildings in the South
Natural Navigation Walk – Sold Out
Victorian Crazy Patchwork
Illuminated Lettering
Lime Plasters – Sold Out
Limewash, Distemper & Linseed-based Paints
How to Care for & Manage Heavy Horses – Sold Out
Wattle & Daub
Conservation of Historic Brickwork – Sold Out
Stone Carving: Green Man – Sold Out
Botanical Illustration: Hips, Haws & Berries
Discover the Art of Quilting
Oak Timber Framing: Roof Framing
Leather Belt Making Workshop – Sold Out
Spinning: Drop Spindle & the Wheel
Leather Pouch Workshop – Sold Out
Introduction to Falconry – Sold Out
Fire & Historic Buildings
Wood Block Textiles Printing
Bronze Sword Casting – Sold Out
Bronze Axe Casting
Bronze Dagger Casting – Sold Out
Bronze Axe Casting
Timber Decay & its Treatment
Make a Needle Felt Teddy Bear – Sold Out
Willow Christmas Trees – Sold Out
Introduction to Signwriting
Mushroom Dorset Button
Copper Foil Stained Glass Workshop
Practical Flint Walling
Willow Christmas Trees – Sold Out
Print Your Own Woodcut Christmas Cards
Print Your Own Woodcut Christmas Cards
Print Your Own Woodcut Christmas Cards
Make a Silver Ring Stack
Make a Silver Ring Stack
Everlasting Willow Christmas Wreath
Everlasting Willow Christmas Wreath
Everlasting Willow Christmas Wreath
Everlasting Willow Christmas Wreath
Needle Felting Christmas Decorations
MSc Degrees
For those that are interested in taking their knowledge further and achieving a high level qualification, the Museum also offers two Masters Degree programmes, in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation.