What’s On This Month…
With so much to explore at the Museum, the demonstrations and activities vary daily, much like the seasonal activities would have in the time period of the people who lived and worked in our historic buildings.
Our interpretation team, with the help of visiting experts and our wonderful team of knowledgeable volunteers, showcase different aspects of the Museum collection each day.
We have the following additional interpretation activities and demonstrations taking place. Please note activities and demonstrations can be subject to change due to reasons out of our control. It is worth checking on the day of your visit if there is something specific you would like to see.
Thursday, 20 November – See our Winkhurst kitchen come to life as our interpretation team demonstrate various chores for the Autumn months during the 16th century. Along with demonstrations on the art of natural dyeing. You can also learn about sewing 16th century linens and clothes in Bayleaf Farmhouse.
Friday, 21 November – See demonstrations in our Gateway Gallery as one of our volunteers will be hosting a show and tell of times that a 16th century mistress of the house may have had on her belt or in her purse. Learn about the art of processing flax at Cowfold barn, hear about the daily chores in our 16th century Winkhurst Kitchen, and learn about life in our Victorian Whittaker’s Cottages.
Please note that our Museum is only open from 10am to 1pm on Friday, 21 November as we prepare the site for our Christmas Market weekend.
Saturday, 22 & Sunday 23 November – Christmas Market
Monday, 24 November – Learn about Medieval bows and arrows with a display and talk to our volunteer to find out more in Winkhurst Hall. See demonstrations ok keeping a house in the late Victorian times in our Whittaker’s Cottages. Hear a timed talk at 12noon at our Lurgashall watermill, find out more about the mill and how it works.
Tuesday, 25 November – Learn about how a Victorian Cottage may have been kept, in our Whittaker’s cottages. See demonstrations on how a Yeoman farmer might have maintained his property in the Autumn months in Bayleaf Farmhouse, along with timed talks over in Winkhurst Kitchen where our volunteers will be taking a light-hearted look at the difference between life for a woman in 1540 versus today in 2025, at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm. With demonstrations on our Museum Saxon Loom in the lower floor of the building from Lavant, processing flax at Cowfold Barn and distilling herbs in Winkhurst kitchen.
Wednesday, 26 November – Learn about knitting hose and gloves for 16th century folk in our Gateway gallery. See and hear a talk on dressing as a Tudor in Winkhurst Hall, at 12noon and 2pm. Also, learn about the art of processing flax in Cowfold barn. With timed talks at 12noon at our Southwater Smithy, and 2pm in one of our Museum Historic Gardens.
Thursday, 27 November – See our Winkhurst kitchen come to life as our interpretation team demonstrate various chores for the Autumn months during the 16th century, and see our Yeoman Farmer as he is busy undertaking his daily chores in our Bayleaf Farmhouse. Along with demonstrations on keeping a house in the Victorian times in our Whittaker’s cottages.
Friday, 28 November – See demonstrations in our Gateway Gallery as one of our volunteers will be hosting a show and tell of times that a 16th century mistress of the house may have had on her belt or in her purse. Hear about the daily chores in our 16th century Winkhurst Kitchen, and learn about life in our Victorian Whittaker’s Cottages.
Saturday, 29 November – Join us as we start to explore Advent at the Museum. See our Winkhurst kitchen come to life as they undertake their daily chores and also start preparing food for Advent in the 16th century in Winkhurst Kitchen. With food historian Marc Meltonville demonstrating preparations for Christmas in the 18th century in Tindall’s Cottage and enjoy a traditional Mummers Play in the Market Square.
Sunday, 30 November – Join us as we start to explore Advent at the Museum. See our Winkhurst kitchen come to life as they undertake their daily chores and also start preparing food for Advent in the 16th century in Winkhurst Kitchen. See as the Yeoman Farmer as he carries out his daily chores in Bayleaf farmhouse. Along with food historian Marc Meltonville demonstrating preparations for Christmas in the 18th century in Tindall’s Cottage and demonstrations on Stir up Sunday in Whittaker’s cottages as they start to make their Christmas Puddings and Christmas Cake.
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Information for Visitors
The Museum’s 40 acre site, historic gardens and buildings are fascinating places to learn about rural history. Visitors can purchase grain from the Museum shop and feed the hungry ducks on the mill pond. Whilst enjoying the great outdoors and fresh air, look out for our working animals, which can include the Heavy Horses, Sheep and Ducks. There are a number of lovely woodland trails, including a woodland play area for children to explore.
Why not enjoy breakfast, brunch or lunch at our waterside café? Visitors can also bring a picnic as there are plenty of picnic areas available on site. Takeaway refreshments will also be available from our seasonal Shepherd’s Huts located around the Museum.
Dogs on short leads are welcome and there is ample free parking. Please note that the Museum is a no-smoking site. Visitors with access needs are advised to read our accessibility page in advance of their visit.
All activities are subject to change.
