What’s On This Month…
Discover what’s on this month as there is always something new to discover at the Weald & Downland Living Museum. Just as life in the past changed with the seasons, our demonstrations and hands-on activities vary from day to day, reflecting the rhythms of the people who once lived and worked in our historic buildings.
Our interpretation team, supported by visiting specialists and our fantastic, knowledgeable volunteers, brings different parts of the Museum’s collection to life each day, offering fresh stories, skills, and insights to enjoy.
Alongside our regular programme, a range of additional interpretation activities and demonstrations will be taking place. Please be aware that these may change due to circumstances beyond our control, so if there’s something you’re particularly keen to see, we recommend checking on the day of your visit and keeping an eye on our social media channels for any news.
June:
Monday 22 June
Morning demonstrations at Bayleaf and Whittaker’s Cottages keep the week rolling, with the Lurgashall Watermill talk returning at noon. A gentle, enjoyable start to the week for those looking for a relaxed visit.
Tuesday 23 June
The “Woman’s Life: 1540 vs 2026” timed talks return at Winkhurst at 11:30am and 2pm, sitting alongside the regular farmhouse and kitchen demonstrations. The Georgian dairy butter-tasting runs through the afternoon, and Susan Williams gives her Cowfold Barn talk at 12:30. A particularly good day for visitors interested in the history of women’s lives.
Wednesday 24 June — Midsummer’s Day / Feast of St John
On the feast of St John the Apostle and traditional Midsummer’s Day itself, the museum marks the occasion with Maypole dancing at 11am, noon, and 1pm. Meg the pedlar is at Bayleaf, knitting hose is underway at Lower Lavant, and the Smithy and Historic Gardens talks round out a festive mid-week day. Come and celebrate the height of summer in proper historical style.
Thursday 25 June
A quieter but full day with farmhouse and kitchen demonstrations running through the day at Bayleaf and Winkhurst, and flax processing in the morning at Horsham Shops. A lovely, unhurried Thursday for those who want to settle into the pace of the past.
Friday 26 June
Jenni Thompson returns with her compelling “Midwifery Across the Centuries” talks under the Market Hall at 11:30am, 12:30pm, and 2pm, alongside flax processing all day at Horsham Shops and rag rugging from 1:30pm at Lower Lavant. A thoughtful and engaging day particularly suited to adult visitors.
Saturday 27 June
A highlight weekend: medieval pilgrims of the 14th century, referencing St Richard of Chichester, roam the site all day in a wonderful site-wide living history experience. The Jellies and Flummery weekend begins at Eastwick Park Dairy from 11am, with Steve Scott and Marc Meltonville demonstrating Georgian jelly-making and displaying a beautiful collection of moulds. Winkhurst Kitchen and Bayleaf Farmhouse round out a superb Saturday. A must-visit weekend for food history enthusiasts.
Sunday 28 June
The Jellies and Flummery weekend concludes with another day of Georgian dairy delights at Eastwick Park Dairy from 11am. Meg the pedlar returns to Bayleaf, games of the 16th century fill the farmhouse, and Paul Henry traces the journey of flax at Horsham Shop. A sweet and satisfying end to a landmark weekend.
Monday 29 June — Feast of St Peter
The week opens on the feast of St Peter with morning demonstrations at Bayleaf and Whittaker’s Cottages, and the Lurgashall Watermill talk at noon. A peaceful and rewarding Monday visit.
Tuesday 30 June
June ends with a flourish: the Daywood Carvers join the programme at Gridshell, alongside the usual farmhouse, kitchen, and dairy offerings. The “Woman’s Life: 1540 vs 2026” talks return at 11:30am and 2pm, and Susan Williams gives the final Cowfold Barn talk of the month at 12:30. A fitting and varied close to a remarkable month at the museum.
July:
Wednesday, 1 July
July opens at the Weald & Downland Living Museum with the full breadth of the site on offer. Bayleaf Farmhouse and Winkhurst Kitchen bring Tudor domestic life to life, flax is processed by hand, knitting needles shape replica garments, and the maypole turns through the late morning. The forge offers a short talk, and the historic gardens are introduced in the afternoon. Perfect for visitors who love to see history in action.
Thursday, 2 July
Traditional live music drifts from Titchfield Market Hall through the morning, while Bayleaf Farmhouse and Winkhurst Kitchen keep the rhythms of 16th-century life turning. Flax processing continues in the Horsham Shop. A good day for unhurried exploration across the site.
Friday, 3 July
A day that ranges widely across the centuries. The Mistress of the House brings Tudor domestic life to the fore, while a series of timed talks traces midwifery from Saxon times to the modern era; a remarkable thread running through a thousand years of women’s lives. Basketmaking and rag rugging complete the afternoon. History lovers will find much to think about here.
Saturday, 4 July
The Wulfheodenas living history society take up residence in the Saxon Hall this weekend, inhabiting the clothing, tools, and rhythms of 6th and 7th-century Anglo-Saxon daily life. Tindall’s Cottage opens as an 18th-century home, and artefacts from the Museum’s own collection are on display for close inspection. A day of real depth and discovery. Families and history enthusiasts alike will find it rewarding.
Sunday, 5 July
The Anglo-Saxon encampment continues for its second and final day, and the site opens across several centuries at once: a 17th-century cottage, late Victorian life at Whittaker’s, 16th-century games and farmhouse life at Bayleaf, and a journey through historical natural dyes. An Elizabethan instrument maker is at work in the Market Hall, crafting the objects through which past centuries found their music. Wonderful for families wanting to explore different eras side by side.
Monday, 6 July
Meg the licensed pedlar is abroad at Bayleaf, a familiar figure in any 16th-century community, carrying goods across the lanes of the Weald. Willow weaving fills the Market Hall, the watermill introduces itself at midday, and a short history of basketmaking closes the afternoon. Good for those who enjoy watching skilled hands at work.
Tuesday, 7 July
A timed talk at Winkhurst Kitchen draws a direct line between a woman’s world in 1540 and today: illuminating and, at times, startling. The Georgian dairy at Eastwick Park offers something more sensory: a taste of flavoured butters made in the old way. Cowfold Barn reveals its place within the wider Tudor farmstead. A treat for curious visitors of all ages.
Wednesday, 8 July
Maypole dancing, the forge, and a tour of the historic gardens sit alongside flax processing and the knitting of replica garments; crafts that speak to the self-sufficiency that defined rural life for most of English history. The kitchen and farmhouse are open through the day. Perfect for those who enjoy the pleasures of living history.
Thursday, 9 July
Music fills Titchfield Market Hall through the morning, and the Tudor farmhouse and kitchen carry their familiar patterns through the day. A good day to wander, absorb, and let the buildings do the talking.
Friday, 10 July
The Mistress of the House offers a window into what it meant to manage a 16th-century household; a role demanding knowledge, skill, and endurance in equal measure. Rag rugging fills the afternoon, transforming scraps of material into something durable and lasting. Ideal for those who enjoy a more contemplative visit.
Saturday, 11 July
Bayleaf Farmhouse is the heart of the day, where the life of a 16th-century yeoman farmer unfolds from morning into afternoon. And for fans of the much-loved television series The Repair Shop, Court Barn (the iconic filming location familiar to millions of viewers) is open for a sneak peek today, included with general Museum admission. Perfect for families, first-time visitors, and Repair Shop fans alike.
Sunday, 12 July
The farmhouse opens alongside an exploration of games as played in the 16th century, and Whittaker’s Cottage offers a glimpse of late Victorian working life through the morning. Court Barn, home of The Repair Shop, is also open today for visitors to step inside the famous filming location at their leisure. Families will find plenty to enjoy across the site.
Monday, 13 July
The farmhouse is occupied, the kitchen warm, and a talk on our working Watermill is at midday. Flax processing returns through the afternoon, the long, patient labour of turning a plant into thread, which clothed people across the English countryside for centuries. A calm and contemplative Monday on site. Good for those who like to take their time.
Tuesday, 14 July
The timed talk comparing a woman’s life in 1540 and today runs twice through the day (11am & 2pm), and the Georgian dairy offers its flavoured butters to the curious. Flax is being processed through the morning, and late Victorian life opens at Whittaker’s Cottage. This evening, Illyria’s open-air production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It takes to the stage at 7pm; a warm, witty comedy of love and disguise set in the Forest of Arden, running approximately 140 minutes. Tickets must be booked in advance. A day that moves from living history to live theatre. History lovers and theatre-goers alike will find it exceptional.
Wednesday, 15 July
The Feast of St Swithun (long threaded into English weather lore) falls today, a reminder of how closely the old calendar tracked the natural world. The maypole turns, the forge is open, and a talk on Tudor spices adds a sensory edge to the kitchen demonstrations. Perfect for those who love the intersection of folklore and history.
Thursday, 16 July
Traditional live music fills the Market Hall through the morning, and at Bayleaf, timed talks on dressing as a Tudor invite visitors to think about clothing as identity, practicality, and social signal all at once. The kitchen and farmhouse remain open, flax processing continues. History enthusiasts will find it rewarding.
Friday, 17 July
Pete the Pin brings a Tudor pinmaker’s trade to life in the Horsham Shop, a craft so essential it gave rise to the phrase “pin money.” The midwifery talks return, tracing birth and care from Saxon times to the modern era. Rag rugging fills the afternoon. A day of genuine depth, spanning centuries of working life and women’s knowledge. One for curious minds of all ages.
Saturday, 18 July
The award-winning Ragged Victorians bring the harder edges of Victorian Life to the Market Square this weekend, depicting the world of the working classes with vivid, lived-in detail. The Rifle Brigade Reenactment Group are also on site with their camp, open for visitors to explore and speak with. Herbs for healing are demonstrated at Tindall’s Cottage, the Victorian schoolmistress takes her place at the schoolhouse, and the Eastwick Park Dairy reveals the surprising history of Georgian ice cream, made without refrigeration. Wonderful for families and anyone drawn to the Victorian era.
Sunday, 19 July
The Victorian Life living history weekend continues into its second day, with the Ragged Victorians and Rifle Brigade camp both still on site. Herbs for healing return to Tindall’s Cottage, ice cream demonstrations continue at the dairy, and Bayleaf holds kitchen life, farmhouse demonstration, and 16th-century games. Meg the pedlar is back on her rounds. A full and satisfying day on site. Families will enjoy the variety.
Monday, 20 July
Two feast days fall today (St Margaret and the lesser-known St Wilgefortis) a reminder of how richly the old calendar marked particular concerns and hopes. The kitchen is open, a talk on Tudor spices runs at lunchtime, and flax processing fills the afternoon. Perfect for those who enjoy discovering unexpected corners of history.
Tuesday, 21 July
The summer holiday programme begins today with Childhood Through Time, a six-week season of hands-on activities running Tuesday to Thursday each week. This first week focuses on Medieval Times, with a Knucker puppet show, traditional medieval toys and games, and themed storytelling. Alongside these activities, the women’s lives talk, the Georgian dairy, and the farmhouse and kitchen are all open. A wonderful start to the holidays. Families with children will love it.
Wednesday, 22 July
Childhood Through Time continues with another day of medieval activities (puppet shows, games, and storytelling) running through the day. Maypole dancing runs through the late morning, the forge is open for a short talk, and the historic gardens are introduced in the afternoon. Meg the pedlar is at Bayleaf, knitting continues at Lower Lavant. This evening, Illyria bring The Three Musketeers to the open-air stage at 7pm, a swashbuckling tale of 17th-century France, scheming, romance, and the finest stage swordplay around. Suitable for ages 8 and up. Tickets must be booked in advance. A day that has something for every member of the family.
Thursday, 23 July
The summer holidays are well under way, and the site marks the occasion in fitting fashion: at the flax bed, the harvest is underway, pulling and stooking by hand, as it was done for centuries before machinery changed the land. Traditional live music fills the Market Hall, and Tudor dressing talks run at midday and in the afternoon. Childhood Through Time medieval activities continue today for the final time this week. A wonderful day for families encountering these old crafts for the first time.
Friday, 24 July
The Mistress of the House is on site, a talk on Tudor spices runs at lunchtime, and rag rugging fills the afternoon. Flax processing continues in the Horsham Shop. A day of steady, honest work, the kind that built the world the Weald & Downland Living Museum preserves so carefully. Families will find it absorbing.
Saturday, 25 July
Living history comes to the Toll House this weekend, where Regency life is brought to life across two days. A 17th-century shoemaker is at work at Poplar Cottage, the Victorian schoolmistress returns to the schoolhouse, and Rynswith the Cunning Woman takes her place near Sole Street. Court Barn, home of The Repair Shop, is also open today for visitors to step inside the famous filming location, included with general admission. History lovers will find the day exceptional.
Sunday, 26 July
The Feast of St Anne falls today, and the Regency Toll House continues its two-day story. The shoemaker is still at Poplar Cottage, and Pete the Games Maker brings the playful ingenuity of past centuries to the Horsham Shop. Bayleaf offers farmhouse life, games, and Meg the pedlar on her rounds. Court Barn is open once more for a Repair Shop sneak peek, the last opportunity this month to step inside the iconic barn. Wonderful for families enjoying the summer holidays.
Monday, 27 July
A Monday of particular variety. The 17th-century barber surgeon is at Walderton, a figure who combined haircutting with medicine, and whose trade tells us much about how ordinary people sought care for their bodies. The shoemaker continues at Poplar Cottage, Meg the pedlar is on her rounds, and the watermill talks at midday. Perfect for those who enjoy the lesser-told stories of the past.
Tuesday, 28 July
The second week of Childhood Through Time begins, with the focus now shifting to Tudor Times, tabletop jousting, Tudor toys and games, and hands-on family activities running Tuesday to Thursday. The Lace Guild is also in Titchfield Market Hall today, filling the space with the patient, intricate work of bobbin lace, one of the great cottage industries of the English countryside for generations. This evening, Illyria’s production of The Pirates of Penzance takes to the open-air stage at 7pm, Gilbert and Sullivan’s beloved comic opera, packed with sharp wit and melodrama. Suitable for all ages. Tickets must be booked in advance. A day with something for everyone. Families will be delighted.
Wednesday, 29 July
Tudor Times activities continue as part of Childhood Through Time, with maypole dancing, the forge, the gardens, and knitting at Lower Lavant all running alongside. Timed talks on dressing as a Tudor run at Bayleaf, and the farmhouse and kitchen are both open. A steady and satisfying day with the past woven through every corner of the site. Perfect for families on a summer’s outing.
Thursday, 30 July
Music opens the day at Titchfield Market Hall, and the farmhouse and kitchen carry the Tudor world through the afternoon. The final day of Tudor-themed Childhood Through Time activities runs today. A good day to slow down, look carefully, and let the buildings speak.
Friday, 31 July
July closes as the Lammas Fayre begins, one of the oldest festivals in the English calendar, marking the blessing of the first wheat harvest. Black Knight Historical Group are on site to bring the world of 1462 to life across the bank holiday weekend, with medieval market stalls, traders, and living history set in and around the Museum’s historic buildings. Today, the Mistress of the House opens the day and rag rugging fills the afternoon before the weekend’s celebrations get fully under way. A deeply rooted and vivid close to the month. Those who love England’s rural past will feel it keenly.
Book online and save!
Book now
Become a Member and Make the Most of the Seasons
Becoming a Member is the best way to enjoy the Museum throughout the changing seasons while helping to care for our historic buildings, traditional crafts, and beautiful landscape. As an independent charity with no government funding, your support helps protect this special place for future generations. With unlimited visits, seasonal activities, and new experiences to discover each time, membership quickly empowers the joy of returning.
Join as a Member and make the most of everything the Museum offers every season.
Click here to find out more about our membership
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.
