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.
October:
Friday, 9 October
Watch centuries-old skills come alive before your eyes. Meet the Mistress of the House, follow the transformation of flax and watch a pole-lathe turn simple timber into beautifully shaped objects. Craft enthusiasts will not want to miss this one.
Saturday, 10 October
Looking for history with a little more grit? Discover 17th-century farmhouse life, watch preparations for winter brewing, explore flax processing and hear the remarkable story of childbirth from the Anglo-Saxons to the modern age. Perfect for visitors who like their history detailed, unexpected and real.
Sunday, 11 October
Bring the family for a lively day in the Tudor and Stuart past. Meet Meg the Pedlar, try Tudor games, discover 16th-century life, watch winter brewing and encounter the unsettling world of a 17th-century barber surgeon. Families with curious minds will love this one.
Monday, 12 October
Fancy seeing traditional skills in action? Watch fletching, woodcarving and flax processing, explore life in both the Tudor and Victorian periods and discover the workings of Lurgashall Watermill. Perfect for makers, craftspeople and hands-on history fans.
Tuesday, 13 October
What was everyday life really like 500 years ago? Explore a Tudor kitchen and farmhouse, step inside a late Victorian cottage and hear fascinating comparisons of women’s lives, pets and farming in the 16th century. Perfect for social-history lovers.
Wednesday, 14 October
Discover the people and skills that kept communities running. See flax processing and Tudor cooking, meet a historic churchwarden, explore Southwater Smithy and hear what makes the Museum’s historic gardens special. A great choice for visitors who love traditional skills and everyday history.
Thursday, 15 October
Ever wondered how people coped with the long, dark nights before electric light? Explore Tudor and Victorian domestic life and discover the intriguing medieval practice of “two sleeps”. Perfect for anyone fascinated by the stranger details of everyday life in the past.
Friday, 16 October
Get close to the crafts and routines of historic home life. Explore a working 16th-century kitchen, watch flax being processed, meet the Mistress of the House and discover the thrifty tradition of rag rugging. Perfect for textile lovers and traditional craft enthusiasts.
Saturday, 17 October
Healing, folklore or witchcraft? Meet the mysterious Cunning Woman at Tindall’s Cottage, explore Tudor and Victorian life and discover how childbirth changed from the Anglo-Saxon period to today. Perfect for visitors drawn to the darker and more unusual corners of history.
Sunday, 18 October
Fill your Sunday with colour, characters and living history. Meet Meg the Pedlar, enjoy Tudor games, explore 16th- and 17th-century life and watch the striking traditional process of natural indigo dyeing. Families and craft lovers will have plenty to discover.
Monday, 19 October
See the tools and techniques of the past put back to work. Watch fletching and flax processing, explore Tudor cooking and Victorian cottage life, and learn how the historic Lurgashall Watermill works. Perfect for anyone who loves practical history.
Tuesday, 20 October
Travel through centuries of everyday life in a single visit. Step inside Tudor and Victorian homes before discovering stories of Tudor farming, women’s lives and the changing place of pets in the household. Perfect for visitors who enjoy the human side of history.
Wednesday, 21 October
Follow your senses into the 16th century. Explore Tudor cooking and farmhouse life, discover the spices that flavoured historic food, see replica clothing being knitted and visit the smithy, church and historic gardens. Perfect for curious visitors who want to dig into the details of the past.
Thursday, 22 October
Love beautiful things made by hand? Watch traditional willow weaving in the Market Hall, hear the story of basket making and explore Tudor and Victorian domestic life across the Museum. Craft lovers will be in their element.
Friday, 23 October
Meet the makers keeping traditional skills alive. Watch flax processing, pole-lathe turning and rag rugging while exploring the world of the historic household with the Mistress of the House. Perfect for anyone inspired by heritage crafts.
Saturday, 24 October
Start half term with smugglers, pilgrims and stories from centuries past! Encounter Smugglers and Revenue Men at Tindall’s Cottage, meet medieval pilgrims travelling across the Museum and explore life inside a late 19th-century cottage. Families looking for an adventurous day out will love this one.
Sunday, 25 October
Make half term a journey through the past. Meet smugglers and revenue men, follow flax from raw fibre to finished material, try Tudor games and step inside both Tudor and Victorian domestic life. Perfect for families who want plenty to see and do.
Monday, 26 October
Get half term off to a crafty and adventurous start. Meet smugglers and revenue men, watch traditional willow weaving and flax processing, explore the working watermill and discover the long history of basket making. Perfect for families and heritage-craft fans.
Tuesday, 27 October
How different was life in Tudor England from life today? Discover the story of Cowfold Barn, compare a woman’s life in 1540 with 2026 and find out how our ancestors thought about their pets. Perfect for families who love asking questions about the past.
Wednesday, 28 October
Look beyond kings and battles and discover how ordinary communities really worked. Meet the churchwarden, uncover the story of Southwater Smithy and explore the Museum’s historic gardens during their autumn season. Perfect for visitors who enjoy discovering the quieter stories of history.
Thursday, 29 October
Looking for a relaxed half-term day surrounded by history? Explore the Museum at your own pace and discover the fascinating Gridshell exhibition, telling the story of one of the pioneering modern timber structures on site. Perfect for architecture lovers and families who enjoy exploring together.
Friday, 30 October
Make a day of exploring centuries of history this half term. Wander through the Museum’s historic surroundings and discover how tradition and innovation meet in the Gridshell exhibition. Perfect for anyone looking for an inspiring autumn day out.
Saturday, 31 October
Spend Halloween somewhere truly historic. Discover how All Hallows’ Eve was marked in the 16th century as Bayleaf Farmhouse and Winkhurst Kitchen bring the customs and atmosphere of the period to life. Perfect for families who want a Halloween experience with a fascinating historical twist.
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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.
