The museum's 15th-century Bayleaf Farmhouse was featured as a primary location in the BBC series 'Victorian Farm'.
The collection includes a medieval treadwheel crane used for building construction, one of the few surviving examples in the UK.
Buildings are moved using a process of timber-framing conservation, where every structural element is tagged before dismantling.
The museum grounds include an orchard of rare-breed fruit trees preserved as part of a heritage collection.
The site includes a functional 17th-century charcoal burner’s camp used for periodic educational demonstrations.
The Weald & Downland Living Museum is an open-air site featuring over 50 rescued historic buildings relocated from the South East of England. These structures, dating from the 14th to the 20th century, include farmhouses, barns, workshops, and a medieval schoolhouse. The collection is situated within 40 acres of the South Downs National Park. Buildings are dismantled piece-by-piece at their original sites and meticulously reassembled to demonstrate changing rural construction techniques. The site preserves traditional crafts and rural heritage through live demonstrations and historical interpretation. The museum features a functioning watermill that produces flour for sale. Extensive landscape management mimics pre-industrial agricultural practices. The museum serves as an educational resource for architectural history and vernacular building traditions.
The elevated view overlooking the medieval market hall and the pond in the center of the village green.
Wear sturdy, waterproof footwear as much of the site involves walking across uneven grass paths and gravel.
Check the daily demonstration schedule upon arrival, as blacksmithing, cooking, and milling rotate throughout the day.
Bring layers, as the open-air nature of the site makes it significantly windier and colder than Chichester city center.
Attempting to see every building in a single visit without prioritizing specific eras, as the 40-acre site requires significant walking.
Open daily year-round, though some seasonal demonstrations are restricted to weekends and school holiday periods.
Avoid touching historical artifacts or climbing on non-exhibit structures. Keep to marked paths to protect the rural landscape.
