What’s On This Month…

There’s 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.

 

February:

February 14 – Medieval Love & Pilgrimage

Celebrate St Valentine and the start of February half term with a site-wide exploration of medieval pilgrimage. Step inside homes from the 17th and 19th centuries, explore historic artefacts, and experience everyday life across eras.

Make a day of it: There’s something happening across the whole site, ideal for families and group visits.

 

February 15 – Feasting and Fibre

Watch a traditional Shrovetide celebration meal being prepared, eaten and celebrated with a feast in Bayleaf. Explore Victorian home life at Whittakers, and see flax processing in the afternoon at Horsham Shop.

Don’t miss: The smells and sounds of the kitchen bring historic food traditions vividly to life.

 

February 16 – Life at Home

Spend time in a late 19th-century cottage, Whittaker’s, and enjoy another chance to learn how our historic Lurgashall Watermill supported local communities.

Ideal for: A relaxed half-term visit with time to explore at your own pace.

 

February 17 – Shrove Tuesday Traditions

Mark Shrove Tuesday by exploring 16th-century farmhouse life at Bayleaf and listening to engaging talks on women’s experiences in Tudor England at Winkhurst Kitchen.

Plus: Today also kicks off A Very Victorian Half Term – a special three-day, family-focused programme bringing Victorian childhood to life. Step back into the world of a Victorian child which might include a school lesson (with a penny to join in), help Mrs Filkins with real household chores in Whittaker’s Cottage, try traditional Victorian games in Hambrook Barn, enjoy a classic Punch and Judy show, and join the daily Victorian drill on the lawn.

Why visit today? Seasonal traditions give extra context to everyday life and food customs. The half-term activities are included with Museum entry or membership, ideal for half-term outings.

 

February 18 – Craft and Countryside

Alongside knitting, cooking, farming demonstrations, blacksmithing and garden talks, A Very Victorian Half Term continues today, adding a playful family focus to the site.

Visitors will also encounter elements of Victorian childhood brought to life across the museum. This can include Victorian schoolroom-style activities, traditional games, simple crafts inspired by the period, a Punch and Judy-style performance, and opportunities to explore artefacts and toys that would have been familiar to Victorian children.

Top tip: Allow plenty of time to wander, activities may appear at different points across the site and reward curious exploration.

 

February 19 – Kitchens and Cottages

Enjoy visitor favourites including Tudor cooking, Victorian domestic life, and yeoman farming, all well suited to a relaxed half-term visit.

As part of A Very Victorian Half Term, families may also come across further chances to explore Victorian childhood. These may include helping with everyday household chores in Whittaker’s Cottage, joining in period-inspired games, encountering costumed interpreters, or taking part in light-hearted schoolroom-style activities that reflect how children once learned and played.

Good to know: Activities may vary across the day, and interpreters are happy to adapt explanations for both children and adults.

 

February 20 – Textiles and Tidying Up

Learn about Tudor household management in the Gallery, watch flax being processed in Horsham Shop, and see colourful rag rugs created before your eyes in the Gallery.

Don’t miss: The contrast between fine and practical textiles tells a powerful story about class and comfort.

 

February 21 – A Journey Through Time

Travel through multiple centuries in one day: meet a Regency toll keeper in the Toll House, explore Tudor and 17th-century homes, examine artefacts, and discover how spices transformed early modern cooking in Winkhurst Kitchen.

Make time for: The spice talks, they’re lively, sensory, and engaging.

 

February 22 – Games, Homes, and Roads

Enjoy Tudor games in Bayleaf, step inside pre-Victorian and Victorian homes, visit a Regency Toll House, and watch 16th-century cooking in action in Winkhurst Kitchen.

Great for: Visitors who enjoy a variety of history and interpretation across the Museum.

 

February 23 – Mill & Morning Tasks

A quieter day ideal for relaxed exploration. Visit Whittaker’s Cottages, explore artefacts in the Gallery, see Tudor cooking in Winkhurst Kitchen, and enjoy a short Watermill talk.

Perfect if: You prefer calm, conversational visits with plenty of time to linger.

 

February 24 – Tudor Family Life

Focus on rural Tudor living at Bayleaf Farmhouse and deepen your understanding of women’s roles through engaging talks at Winkhurst Kitchen.

Worth doing: Compare questions you ask in the Farmhouse and Kitchen, you’ll get different perspectives on the same time period!

 

February 25 – Wool, Fire, and Forge

Watch traditional knitting in the Gallery and flax processing in Horsham Shop, then learn about the Smithy and Historic Gardens through a series of short expert talks.

Don’t miss: Seeing how raw materials became everyday necessities.

 

February 26 – Sound and Skill

Enjoy live music in the Gallery, explore the life of a Tudor Yeoman Farmer in Bayleaf, and see flax processing techniques up close in Horsham Shop.

Tip: Let the music open your visit with some fun!

 

February 27 – Hearth and Home

Experience the warmth of a medieval fire in Bayleaf, explore Victorian cottage life in Whittaker’s, and see Tudor household skills demonstrated throughout the day.

Perfect for: Anyone fascinated by how people created comfort with limited resources.

 

February 28 – A Perfect Farewell to February

End the month by visiting our 16th-century farmhouse at Bayleaf, Whittaker’s Victorian cottages, and the collection’s artefacts in the Gallery – an ideal snapshot of everyday life across the centuries.

Finish strong: Say goodbye to Winter with a jam-packed day at the Museum!

 

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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.