The Museum is pleased to offer venue hire and is the perfect choice for those seeking an unusual, beautiful and tranquil setting for an event.
From the 15th century Crawley Hall, to the innovative Jerwood Gridshell space and modern Sargent room – we regularly cater for meetings, conferences and team-building days. The Museum’s tranquil surroundings make an ideal change from the usual workplace setting, and delegates are welcome to explore the Museum and take in the atmosphere during break times.
Several of our buildings are also licenced for weddings, with the Museum’s grounds making a stunning backdrop.
We recommend that you visit us to see the venues for yourself before making a booking. Please call us on 01243 811032 or email us at venuehire@wealddown.co.uk and we will be delighted to show you around the Museum and discuss your requirements.
Types of Hire
Weddings
The Weald & Downland Living Museum is a unique location for your wedding.
For further information and more wedding venue photos please see our dedicated Weddings page.
Private Hire
We offer a choice of venue for your meeting catering up to 30 people in our Crawley Hall and up to 180 in our Jerwood Gridshell space. We can provide catering upon request, please specify your requirements in your enquiry.
Captions: 1. Café interior leading to Sargent room, 2. Café interior with waterside views, 3. Café courtyard, 4. Exterior of café and Sargent room, 5. Jerwood Gridshell space interior, 6. Jerwood Gridshell space interior dressed for banquet, 7. Jerwood Gridshell space (not dressed), 8. Hall from Crawley interior, 9. Court Barn interior
Filming & Photography
Set in 40 acres of beautiful Sussex downland and with 50 original rescued historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 19th century, plus a reconstructed Saxon hall house (950AD), the Museum is a wonderful location for documentary, drama, venue filming and commercial photography.
The site is ideal for authentic historic interiors and exteriors, plus general landscape views. The view along our Market Square, suitably set-dressed, makes a strong street scene – explore the buildings and Museum grounds.
Please note that all filming is as a third party venue hire – the Museum cannot answer queries on behalf of the production companies involved.
Past productions filmed at the Museum include:
- BBC2 The Repair Shop (May 2017–date)
- CBeebies My Story Specials: Great Fire of London (October 2016)
- Wall to wall (for BBC2) Victorian Bakers (January 2016)
- BBC Films & Koch Media Bill (September 2015)
- BBC Countryfile (September 2015)
- BBC The Hollow Crown Henry VI part II (January 2015)
- Freemantlemedia Ltd Escape to the Country (October 2013)
- Lion TV Tudor Monastery Farm (April – October 2013)
- BBC Flog it! (February 2013)
- 360 Productions Ltd The Time Travellers Guide to the Elizabethans (November 2012)
- BBC Hairy Bikers (September 2012)
- STV Productions Celebrity Antiques Roadtrip (June 2012)
- Silver River Restoration Women (April 2012)
- Shakespeare Productions Ltd Henry VI parts (January 2012)
- Lion TV The Link (August 2011)
- BBC The One Show with Ruth Goodman (January – February 2011)
- Endemol Restoration Village – The Final (September 2010)
- Hallmark Entertainment The 10th Kingdom (2000)
- BBC If walls could talk with Lucy Worsley (September 2009 & February 2010)
- Endemol for the BBC Restoration Village – The Final (September 2009)
- Talkback Thames Escape to the Country (July 2009)
- Antix Productions Most Haunted (May 2009)
- BBC Countryfile featuring the Museum’s Tree Dressing Event (Dec 2008)
- Maya Vision Int Christine of Codicote (March 2008 & Oct 2009)
“Tasked with finding a setting to stage the Battle of York for the Hollow Crown series, we were fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to work and film with the Weald & Downland Museum. It is not every museum that takes the approach to set a full scale medieval battle in their stride and it is to Weald & Downland’s credit that we were able to film key scenes for the drama… A remarkable location staffed by a remarkable team. Thank you.”
Jethro Ensor, Location Manager, The Hollow Crown
We can accommodate early starts and late finishes, and always go the extra mile to help crews achieve what they strive for. There is also a good range of accommodation nearby.
For further information please contact the Museum team on 01243 811032 or email venuehire@wealddown.co.uk