Weald and Downland Living Museum

The Weald and Downland Living Museum stands on 40 acres in Singleton, West Sussex. It is an open-air museum run by a registered charity that rescues and rebuilds historic buildings from South East England. Over fifty structures span from 950 AD to the 19th century, set among gardens, farm animals, walks and a mill pond. The museum began in 1967 when Dr J.R. Armstrong led a group of enthusiasts to save buildings threatened with demolition. Land was provided by Edward James of West Dean at a peppercorn rent. The first public opening was on 5 September 1970. The museum’s buildings were dismantled, conserved and rebuilt in their historical form because they could not stay in place. Two archaeological reconstructions join the rescued structures to show homes, farmsteads and rural industries over the last 950 years. Visitors can watch hands-on activities such as cooking and weaving, and attend yearly events like seasonal shows and a historic gardens weekend. The museum also demonstrates traditional crafts and trades through exhibits and demonstrations. Its approach encourages sympathetic preservation and continuing use of historic buildings. A timber-framed aisled barn from 1771 houses an exhibition on traditional building methods. Bayleaf farmhouse, dating from the early 15th century, has a garderobe and sliding shutters. The Court barn, funded by the Worshipful Company of Plumbers, now hosts the BBC series The Repair Shop. A 1900 hand-worked crane forms part of a reconstructed timber yard. The Weald and Downland Gridshell, built in 2000–2002, won eight awards and provides storage, workshops and an exhibition area.