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.
Monday, 7 April – Join us for week one of our Eco-Easter half term activities!
Monday, 7 April – Learn about the shortage of food was made easier with Lenten dietary restrictions in the late 16th Century, with demonstrations in Winkhurst Kitchen.
Tuesday, 8 April – See our Yeoman Farmer in action around the Bayleaf Farmstead, as he carryings out maintenance on his property. Join our volunteers in Winkhurst Kitchen as they take a light hearted look at the difference between life for a woman in 1540 and 2025. These will be 10 minute talks at: 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm. They will also be giving visitors a chance to try out various 16th century replica kitchen implements as well as 10 minute talks around elements of the Ritual Year. (11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm).
Wednesday, 9 April – See demonstrations in our Gateway Gallery, with our volunteers knitting 16th century ladies hose (stockings) to be worn by our volunteers at the Museum with their replica historic clothing. Join our volunteers in Bayleaf Farmstead, as you can see demonstrations on the sort of work the lady of the house would have done. Also in our Winkhurst Kitchen, volunteers will be talking about the restrictions around lent in the 16th century. Also one of our volunteers will be demonstrating the intricate work of making decorative pastry coffins (pasty lids).
Thursday, 10 April – Visit our Artefacts table in the Gateway Galley, where you can chat with our volunteers to find out more about the special objects. See demonstrations on 16th century spinning, carding and household duties. See baking your daily bread in the 16th century Winkhurst Kitchen and traditional music will entertain our visitors in the Gateway Gallery.
Friday, 11 April – Learn about the art of processing Flax with demonstrations in Cowfold Barn. Meet the Daywood Carvers, as they showcase and demonstrate the art of wood carving in the Activity Room.
Saturday, 12 & Sunday, 13 April – Easter Through the Ages – see event details.
Monday, 14 April – Join us for week two of our Eco-Easter half term activities!
Monday, 14 April – Learn about how the shortage of food was made easier with Lenten dietary restrictions. Meet our volunteers in Winkhurst Kitchen as they will demonstrate and talk about the foods on offer at this time of year.
Tuesday, 15 April – See demonstrations on the jobs that a Yeoman Farmer would have to do around his property in Bayleaf Farmstead. Listen to the light hearted look at the differences between life for a woman in 1540 and 2025 in Winkhurst Kitchen, with talks at 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm. They will also be giving visitors a chance to try out various 16th century replica kitchen implements as well as 10 minute talks around elements of the Ritual Year. (11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm).
Wednesday, 16 April – Find out about the types of work that the lady of the house would have done in the 16th century in our Bayleaf Tudor Farmstead. Also one of our volunteers will be demonstrating the intricate work of making decorative pastry coffins (pasty lids). See demonstrations in our Gateway Gallery, with our volunteers knitting 16th century ladies hose (stockings) to be worn by our volunteers at the Museum with their replica historic clothing.
Thursday, 17 April – See demonstrations on 16th century carding, spinning and household duties in the Bayleaf Farmstead. Learn about the dietary restrictions on Maundy Thursday in the 16th Century in Winkhurst Kitchen, and listen to traditional music in our Gateway Gallery.
Friday, 18 April – Good Friday – Explore the Museum as it prepares for Easter, with demonstrations and preparations in Winkhurst Kitchen.
Saturday, 19 April – Visit Whitakers Cottage where there will be demonstrations of a railway porter in the late 19th century. Join us in Bayleaf Farmstead for the last day of Lent in the 16th Century, and talk to our volunteer in South Wonston Church about the importance of the Easter weekend as she prepares a floral arrangement.
Sunday, 20 April – Easter Sunday – Visit Whitakers Cottage where there will be demonstrations of a railway porter in the late 19th century. See how life would have been in a 17th century in the House from Walderton. Along with demonstrations on the joys of breaking the Lenten fast in the 16th century, where volunteers will demonstrate how food would have been used to celebrate the end of Lent.
Monday, 21 April – Visit Whitakers Cottage where there will be demonstrations of a railway porter in the late 19th century. See demonstrations on how Easter Monday was celebrated in the 17th century in the House from Walderton with Food Historian, Marc Meltonville. Also, join the team in Bayleaf Farmstead as they spend the day preparing a meal for Easter, with activity in Winkhurst Kitchen followed by a celebration meal in Bayleaf House. Come and watch them in action and ask questions about their preparations and celebrations.
Tuesday, 22 April – See our Yeoman Farmer in action as he demonstrates the jobs he would need to carry out to maintain his property. Listen to the light hearted look at the differences between life for a woman in 1540 and 2025 in Winkhurst Kitchen, with talks at 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm. They will also be giving visitors a chance to try out various 16th century replica kitchen implements as well as 10 minute talks around elements of the Ritual Year. (11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm).
Wednesday, 23 April – See demonstrations in our Gateway Gallery, with our volunteers knitting 16th century ladies hose (stockings) to be worn by our volunteers at the Museum with their replica historic clothing. Watch demonstrations in Bayleaf Farmstead, as the lady of the house will carry out the sort of work she would have done to maintain the household, and one of our volunteers will be demonstrating the intricate work of making decorative pastry coffins (pasty lids) in Winkhurst Kitchen.
Thursday, 24 April – Hear music being played in the Gateway gallery on traditional instruments. With Lent finally over, you can see demonstrations on cheese and butter making in Winkhurst Kitchen. See demonstrations on 16th century carding, spinning and household duties in the Bayleaf Farmstead.
Friday, 25 April – Visit our Artefacts table in the Gateway Galley, where you can chat with our volunteers to find out more about the special objects. See demonstrations on springtime cooking in the 16th century in Winkhurst Kitchen.
Saturday, 26 April – See demonstrations on 16th century haberdashery and pin making in Horsham Shop.
Sunday, 27 April – Learn about the processing of Flax in Cowfold barn, and see demonstrations on natural dyeing in the 16th century in Winkhurst Kitchen.
Monday, 28 April – See demonstrations using the fresh milk and cream as it is made into cheese and butter in Winkhurst Kitchen.
Tuesday, 29 April – Find out about the sort of work the Lady of the house would have carried out in Bayleaf Farmstead. Listen to the light hearted look at the differences between life for a woman in 1540 and 2025 in Winkhurst Kitchen, with talks at 11am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm. They will also be giving visitors a chance to try out various 16th century replica kitchen implements as well as 10 minute talks around elements of the Ritual Year. (11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm).
Wednesday, 30 April – See demonstrations in our Gateway Gallery, with our volunteers knitting 16th century ladies hose (stockings) to be worn by our volunteers at the Museum with their replica historic clothing. Watch as one of our volunteers will be demonstrating the intricate work of making decorative pastry coffins (pasty lids) in Winkhurst Kitchen.
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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.
