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The MuseumWhat is a Museum?Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society. Foundation The Museum was founded in 1967 under the leadership of Dr Roy Armstrong on a 40 acre site in the South Downs near Chichester, West Sussex. The land is leased from the Edward James Foundation. The museum first opened in September 1970. Our Mission The museum is an educational charity formed to encourage interest in traditional buildings, building crafts and technology and rural life and landscapes in south east England through its collections, education and recreation. Registered Charity Number 306338. Key Aims
PositionThe Museum is one of the principal museums of historic buildings in the UK and has a national reputation for the quality of its building restoration work, especially timber framing. In July 1998 its collections were awarded "Designated Status" recognising their pre-eminence and putting the Museum in the premier league of museums in the country.
Visitor NumbersThe Museum is one of the leading independent museums in the UK, receiving some 140,000 visitors a year, making it one of the major leisure attractions in the South of England. Recognition The Museum has won several prestigious awards including the National Heritage Museum of the Year Award, the Times/Shell Community Museum of the Year Award, the Gateway Interpret Britain Award, the Society of the Interpretation of Britain (SIBH) Interpret Britain Award for the Museum's education and lifelong learning programmes and most recently in 2007 a third Sandford Award for Education. The Museum's innovative Gridshell building won numerous architectural and design awards Environmental Conservation The Museum plays an active role, managing a site in the heart of the south Downs and a number of historic coppice woodlands outside its own site and co-operating with local craftsmen for the sale and marketing of produce from the woods. Substantial quantities of cleft oak laths have been supplied to major conservation projects such as Hampton Court Palace, Uppark House and the Globe Theatre. Working horses are used regularly at the Museum. Quality thatching straw is produced at the Museum and sold commercially. The Museum's watermill works daily producing wholemeal stone-ground flour for commercial sale. The Museum is independent, run by a Board of Trustees. An operating company, Weald and Downland Museum Open Air Museum Limited runs the Museum and holds the collections. The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Limited by Guarantee and Registered as a Charity No. 306338. Registered in England No. 946307. Registered Office Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU. The Museum's trading is administered by Singleton Museum Services Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Weald and Downland Open Air Museum Limited Registered in England No. 1437695. Registered Office: Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU. Revenue The Museum receives little revenue support from local authorities or other sources. The main source of income is visitor admission, adult and schools education, supplemented by revenue from the shop, catering and trading in products such as flour. From 1999 to 2007 we have received support from the Designation Challenge Fund. Capital Almost £3 million has been raised by the Museum for capital development. Support has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums & Galleries Commission, South East Museums Service; charitable trusts; company sponsors and local commerce, industry and individuals. New sources of funds are continuously sought. Annual Report and Accounts
The Museum's small professional staff of 33 is headed by the Museum Director, Richard Harris . They are supported by 300 volunteers, who play a major role in opening the Museum to visitors, in education, historic gardens and practical building support. Their input is valued at £210,000 a year (Heritage Lottery Fund formula). The Museum's Friends organisation is one of the largest in the country, with over 4,000 members and contributes significant funding to Museum projects. Returns to the Charity Commission2007
2006
2005
Museum Endowment TrustThe Endowment Trust was set up in November 2000, with the major objective of underpinning the Museum's longer term financial position. Endowment Trust funds would be used for capital projects or major improvements to the Museum, but NOT used by the Museum for everyday purposes. Legacies received by the Museum are transferred to the Endowment Trust for safe keeping and investment. This has worked well. The Endowment Trust reached its five year objective of raising £500,000 by the end of 2006. The new target is £1,000,000 by 2010. This may sound a lot, but with the new Access Project, perhaps costing up to two million pounds this new target is essential. |
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