14 February 2026
Valentine’s Day: Saints, Sweethearts & Secrets
Each year, as the bare boughs of February begin to hint at the coming spring, the feast of Saint Valentine beckons with its quiet promise of affection, remembrance, and, for…
9 February 2026
The Art of the Living Boundary: Traditional Hedge Laying
Amid the winding paths and timeworn timber-framed buildings of the Weald & Downland Living Museum, you may chance upon a seemingly humble task: men and women in thick gloves and…
2 February 2026
A Very Victorian Childhood
What was it like to grow up as a child in Victorian England, not in the smog-filled cities of Dickensian London, but amidst the winding lanes, hedgerows, and hayfields of…
27 January 2026
Candlemas: The Light of a New Year
How long do you leave your Christmas decorations up for? Do you have people jibing about how it’s bad luck to leave them up past Twelfth Night? Scoffing at how…
14 January 2026
Wellbeing in the Weald, Downtime in the Downland
In today’s fast‑paced, always‑on world, looking after our wellbeing has never been more important. For many people, the start of the year brings a unique set of challenges. The darker…
12 January 2026
Plough Monday: Welcoming in the Agricultural Year
Marking the traditional beginning of the agricultural year, Plough Monday, observed on the first Monday after Epiphany, offers a vivid insight into England’s rural past. With roots stretching back to…
5 January 2026
Twelfth Night: The Festive Finale of Christmastide
Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, is a captivating and often overlooked celebration rooted in medieval English customs. With a legacy woven through centuries of…
18 December 2025
The History of Wassailing
Wassailing emerged in the depths of winter, long before modern conveniences eased the hardships of rural life, when communities across England turned to time-honoured customs to carry them through the…
3 December 2025
Tree Dressing Day: Celebrating the Beauty of Trees
As Tree Dressing Day draws near, it can be interesting to ask ourselves this question: have you ever looked at a tree and seen more than just wood and leaves?…
1 December 2025
The Peace before the Party: Advent Traditions
Advent calendars. They are everywhere at this time of year. From the classic chocolate ones in their various flavours and colours, to the more modern and inventive ones of tea,…
25 November 2025
Accessible to Everyone: Our 55th Anniversary Appeal
This year marks a very special milestone for us here at the Weald & Downland Living Museum: our 55th anniversary. For over half a century, we’ve opened our gates to…
28 October 2025
Our LSA Building: A Part of Britain’s Rural Revolution
When we think of Britain’s interwar years, we often picture the roaring twenties or the austerity of the thirties, but amid these decades of change, one of the most quietly…
