One of our newest members of staff here at the Museum is Darron Carver, who joined us a few weeks ago as our Head of Collections & Site Operations. We wanted to take a moment to welcome Darron to the Weald & Downland team and give you a little background on our newest recruit…
Welcome Darron and congratulations on your new role, tell us a bit about yourself…
I currently live in Cocking, just up the road from Weald & Downland Living Museum. I was born and bred on the Cowdray Estate in Midhurst where my father was a forrester. The Estate, and the history it holds, has been a big part of my life so far and really helped channel my interest in this area. I read an awful lot about history, including local history, and collect antique history books.
I first visited the Museum with my primary school. Even as a child, I always had an interest in the past, which was encouraged by my Grandfather. He was called Ronald Boxall and wrote a book called A Midhurst Lad, about the history of Midhurst and growing up in the area. He was always my go to when I was at school for help with history projects.
When I first left school I worked as a joiner and did an apprenticeship. This triggered an interest in buildings which over the years has continued to grow, culminating in a MSc at the Museum, from which I will be graduating this June. It has been really fascinating and a great thing to do.
Quite an interesting story is that four or five years ago, I came here because I was working on a barn that had all the internal components completely covered. I wanted to see how the barn was actually built, so I came down to look at the Aisled Barn from Hambrook as a guide, and was able to do a few sketches and take some names. On my way out I went to the shop and bought a book on timber frame building, and the lady serving me said “Oh if you’re interested, we’re doing a MSc here.” She gave me all the leaflets and information to look at, which promptly sat on my desk for two years. But as we came out of COVID, I picked it up again, and that is how I came to do the MSC, which in turn led to me embarking on this new role with the Museum.
Is there a particular part of the Museum that you’re most passionate about?
Academically, it has to be Bayleaf for being one of the oldest and for its historic record of conservation. The evolution of conservation within that building is really quite something.
Aesthetically, it has to be Titchfield Market Hall and also the square. I mean, particularly when you look at it from the south, it’s just brilliant and I absolutely love it.
Another building that really fascinates me is Lurgashall Mill. I came in recently with my wife and daughter to have a look at the lambs, and we visited the mill, which was the first time we had seen it working. Considering when it was built, the engineering involved is just something else.
