every house has a story Archives

You never know what you have until it’s gone! I seem to be assembling a post lockdown buck-list of heritage sites to revisit next year. Towards the top of my list is the wonderful Weald and Download museum.

In these lockdown-days, I has having a look through my blog and came across some photographs that I posted on this blog when I visited the museum back in 2012.

Medieval Market place — *Storm clouds gathering over the market place.*

Medieval shop from Horsham, Sussex — Medieval Shop from Horsham, Sussex.
This is a pair of shops which were originally built in the 15th century.
Only one of the pair has stairs up to the jettied upper rooms.
This is our favourite house in the entire museum – great for playing ‘shops’ in!

Weald and Downland Museum — Upper Hall from Crawley (circa 1500). The ground floor was divided into separate rooms and the first floor was one long open room (perhaps used as a meeting room). Both ends of the building are not the original (only one end is visible in my picture – in the centre) – they are modern ends added because the original ends no longer exist.

Market Hall from Tichfield, Hampshire — Market Hall from Titchfield, Hampshire.
A typical 17th century market hall – this one was built in 1620.
The lower level was used as an open arcade used by traders whilst
the rooms on the upper floor would have been used as the town’s council chambers. Under the stairs leading to the upper level there is a ‘cage’ (or village lock-up).

Flint and brick house from Walderton — House from Walderton, Sussex. This is a 17th century building constructed of flint and brick. When I visited in 2012, one of the museum’s wonderful volunteer helpers spent a long time with us talking about the house. We were shown the indentations on the cobbles by the hearth (inside) caused by hob-nailed boots where the man of the house used to stand and shuffle, trying to warm himself in front of the fire. We were shown how the building was constructed and altered over hundreds of years of occupation to suit each new generation. The front door was of great fascination because of the over-sized lock! All the nooks and crannies within this incredible house were scrutinized and explained to us.

Wealden House at Weald and Downland Museum — *‘Bayleaf Farmstead’ – Wealden House from Chiddingstone, Kent.*

*‘Bayleaf Farmstead’ – Wealden House from Chiddingstone, Kent.*

Inside the Wealden House from Chiddingstone at the Weald and Downland Museum — *Inside the Wealden House from Chiddingstone.*

Inside the Wealden House from Chiddingstone - open fireplace — *Inside the Wealden House from Chiddingstone – the open fire place.*

Inside the Wealden House from Chiddingstone - the kitchen area — *Inside the Wealden House from Chiddingstone – the kitchen area.*

Medieval open hall at Weald and Downland Museum — *Hall from Boarhunt, Hampshire. This building dates from the late 14th century and is an example of a medieval open hall.*

Once these crazy strange pandemic days are over, how about adding the Weald and Downland museum to your 2021 post lockdown bucket-list?

You may be interested in the following links about the Weald and Downland Museum:

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum

[Book] Building History: Weald & Downland Open Air Museum 1970-2010 the First 40 Years

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If you are very fortunate, you might live in a fabulous house like the ones on display at the Weald and Downland museum. But if, like me, you don’t, you may still be interested about the history of your house. Here’s some posts from my blog that might interested you:-

Every house has a story - trace the history of your house.

Tag Archive every house has a story

Weald and Download museum & my bucketlist