Weald & Downland Museum

This fascinating open air museum boasts a collection of some 40 buildings, dating from the 13th century through to the Victorian era, saved from otherwise certain destruction. All are fine examples of vernacular buildings that have been carefully dismantled from their original sites in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, and re-erected within the 50 acres of the museum site.

Many of the homes exhibited at Weald and Downland Museum have been furnished to show a typical lifestyle that original occupants of the building might have followed, and 'living' gardens have been created, producing herbs, vegetables and flowers much as they would have in medieval times. There is such a feeling of energy, enthusiasm and life about the whole site. The houses are being restored and conserved, but instead of the cold, characterless showpieces so often put on public view, these are real homes, places of work, shops and schools that were once were so full of activity. And some of that atmosphere has been preserved with the building. Elsewhere, local breeds of livestock are being managed, traditional farming methods employed, ground flour being produced by a working water mill, thatching and early carpentry skills shown in the conservation of properties and, of course, the building techniques that have been used over the last 500 years.

One of the exhibits that showed a remarkably simple way of life, little changed in over 5,000 years, was the ancient craft of charcoal burning. At the Weald & Downland Museum, an authentic reconstruction of a camp can be witnessed in the wooded area, with both kiln and living accommodation (a turfed hut) having been built by an old family of charcoal burners. It is incredible to think that people were still following such a crude lifestyle during the first half of the 20th century.

This is a unique opportunity to experience a rich diversity of historic buildings that were once commonplace throughout this region. By ingeniously putting such a diversity of homes, farmsteads and rural industries into context with regular demonstrations of the traditional skills and crafts synonymous with their age, the Weald and Downland Museum has created a site that cannot fail to evoke an interest in our past. Throughout the year a wide range of special events takes place, from Tudor cookery days to full-costume history re-enactments, as well as numerous children's activity programmes.