New Future for Museum's Medieval House
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P. 01 Spring 2016 Front Cover_W&D OFC (2) 16/02/2016 08:40 Page 1 SPRING 2016 WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM 5 New future for museum’s medieval house 3 The Gateway 14 The Anglo- 17, 21 Project – Saxon House – Events, work starts opening Courses this spring planned for and What’s 17 23autumn 33 on 2016 P. 02 Spring 2016_P. 2- 16/02/2016 08:41 Page 2 WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM SPRING 2016 From the Director 2016 is going to be a very eventful and exciting year revolving around the Gateway Project, which is now truly underway. There are 9 inevitably going to be some dis- ruptions and challenges during the construction process, such as the work to the millpond and re-landscaping the car parks, but the operational side of the Louise Adams Louise museum will function as usual. 14 The medieval house from Sole Street and the Pallingham Quay wagon shed were successfully dismantled during the latter part of 2015 and the site cleared awaiting the arrival of the building contractors who start construction work at the beginning of March. Pilbeam Construction Ltd of Southwick, near Shoreham, have been appointed, and they Poplar Cottage, the museum's mid-17th will work towards completing the complex of buildings by 29 century labourer's cottage, with green the end of the year, with fitting out over the winter months shoots of teazels appearing in late spring of 2016/17. The museum will be closed over the winter to enable this work to take place. News.............. 3,4,9,11,13,16 Talks ...............................25-26 The project alone demands full-time leadership from the museum, on top of ‘business as usual’ and the transitional Historic buildings .5,7-8, Collections................27-29 changes needed for the museum to take full advantage of the opportunities that this major investment brings. Taking all 18-19 Members’ news ...30-31 factors into account we have taken the decision that I will focus on leading and managing the implementation of the Interpretation.........14-15, Schools’ services..32-33 Gateway Project as its Project Director. The museum’s trustees are therefore recruiting a new Museum Director What’s On ........................17 People..........................35-37 during the early part of this year. It had always been my intention to retire in 2017, which, with our project time- Courses........................21-24 Map ......................................39 scale, coincides with the completion of the Gateway Project. Our event programme this year will include the fascinat- ing spectacle of ‘raising the frame’ of the house from Sole Street on its new site during June: the re-erection of our Food & Folk Festival – historic buildings always draw a crowd. We hope many people will take the opportunity of visiting the museum on a regular basis to follow not only the reconstruction of this important building, but also watch the Gateway construction 1/2 May in progress. A new information leaflet has been produced Enjoy the very best of the listing all the dates and activities for the year ahead. South East’s produce Work has been gradually moving forward with the con- with lots of tasty samples struction of the Anglo-Saxon House. The thatching, using to try and buy at this our own home-produced wheat straw was completed in the popular spring event. autumn, and the wall panels are currently being wattled by Cookery classes and volunteers, with daubing planned for the spring. The house demonstrations will take will be another valuable exhibit building for the collection place in the Cookery and, notably, for school visits. Theatre, and there will be I would like to take this opportunity to thank the very traditional folk music, many individuals, trusts, local authority bodies, the South dancing and storytelling, Downs National Park, and the staff and volunteers whose crafts, books and plants. The Pelican-in-her-Piety Living History support and commitment make this such a special museum. Group will reveal the secrets of medieval life. Visit the website Richard Pailthorpe www.wealddown.co.uk/events/food-and-folk for more information. Museum Director 2 Weald & Downland Open Air Museum SPRING 2016 P. 03-04 Spring 2016_P. 3- 16/02/2016 08:43 Page 3 news Gateway Project – construction begins this month The museum has appointed Pilbeam Construction Ltd of Southwick, near Shoreham as building contractors for the visitor facility buildings which form the major element of the £5.5 million Heritage Lottery Fund-supported Gateway Project. Construction work will begin on 7 March. The site has been prepared over the wildlife and visitor enjoyment. The two project launch events at the autumn and winter 2015, with Joe Another element of the Gateway beginning of October 2015 were a great Thompson, the museum’s Carpenter-in- Project is the Activity Plan, and as part of success and the museum would like to residence leading the dismantling of the this Lucy Hockley organised a most thank everyone for the fantastic support medieval house from Sole Street successful Careers Forum in the for our fundraising appeal so far (see and the wagon shed from autumn (see also page 16). below). The new facilities are expected to Pallingham Quay, West 56,900 – The plan also includes be opened to the public in spring 2017. Sussex, which formed the number of traineeships to assist with To learn more about the project, visit our catering facility. the project’s implemen- www.wealddown.co.uk/gateway. The removal of trees cleft chestnut tation. We welcomed from the site was George Grime and undertaken by Tree shingles being Tarun Ingvorsen in the Would you like to help? Medics of East Dean, made for the autumn working in Most of the finance for the Gateway Project which has opened up Gateway marketing and site man- comes from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£4 the site as you enter the agement, and Richard million) for which we are most grateful. We museum, but this will be Project Toogood and Claire Vidler have been fundraising for another £1.5 million, screened off before construc- joined earlier this year as and have received most generous support tion begins. The new buildings building conservation trainees, who from grant-making trusts, local councils, the which will emerge by the end of the year will work primarily on the medieval South Downs National Park, and many private will include ticketing, retail and catering house from Sole Street (see opposite). donors, to whom we say a very heart-felt facilities as well as the Interpretation Further trainee appointments focusing thank you. We are nearly there, but still Gallery. on schools, interpretation, collections and require another £200,000. Some of you The work provides an opportunity to gardening, and a Community Engage- have already bought shingles as a way of carry out much-needed repair and main- ment Officer, will have taken up their supporting the project (see below) and these tenance work to the millpond and the posts by March. will continue to be available in the coming mill. The contractors will need to drain Work is also well underway to develop- season. The museum is also running a number the pond to carry out the construction ing exciting and informative content for of fundraising activities (see pages 30/31). work, and at first this will involve creating the Interpretation Gallery (see page 4). Any support you can give would be greatly a temporary bund next to the Gateway And the project also includes improved welcomed and appreciated. You can help us site. The mill is likely to be out of interpretation and way-finding on the by contacting the Museum Director on 01243 operation for about six weeks during museum site, a redesigned car parking 811363, or by going online via Justgiving at March and April, but everything will be with more spaces, plus safer and easier www.wealddown.co.uk/gateway/ done to minimise disruption to the access to the museum. Museum wins Sussex Visitor Get involved . and sponsor a shingle! Attraction of the Year! West Sussex woodland craftsman, Ben Law, is making chestnut shingles for The museum was named Sussex Visitor Attraction some of the museum’s new visitor of the Year in the Sussex Life Magazine awards centre buildings and you can help pay at the Hilton Brighton Metropole in October. for these by sponsoring a shingle for Organisations and individuals are nominated by £5 each. They can be ‘bought’ at the readers of the magazine. The Sussex Visitor museum shop, and you can write your Attraction of the Year Award – one of 17 categories own message on each – was open to visitor attractions in Sussex that increase footfall into the county. one and become a Museum Director Richard Pailthorpe said: “We are proud and delighted to have been permanent part of named Sussex Visitor Attraction of the Year. This award is a fantastic endorsement of the project! Pictured our designated collection of rescued historic vernacular buildings from across the is Ben making the South East. It is also testament to our dedicated team of staff and volunteers, whose shingles at his energy, passion and enthusiasm help to make a trip to the museum a fantastic day out workshop in the for visitors of all ages.” Richard is pictured, centre, receiving the award. woods at Lodsworth. Weald & Downland Open Air Museum SPRING 2016 3 P. 03-04 Spring 2016_P. 3- 16/02/2016 08:43 Page 4 news Museum Director to take The Gateway charge of Gateway Project Interpretation Gallery The Museum Director, Richard Pailthorpe, is For a knowledge-based institution the work in switching to a new role to focus on delivering progressing the new Interpretation Gallery is the Gateway Project as its Project Director.