Description:

2010 is the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester. The Museum is England's leading museum of historic buildings and traditional rural life, set in the heart of the new South Downs National Park. There are many activities planned throughout the year to mark the occasion, involving the Museum staff and volunteers, schools, and visitors past and present, with the highlight being a major weekend of celebration scheduled for Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September.

This event will be two days of wonderful activities with excitement for all the family, including a Community carnival, vintage rides, arena events and displays, a horticultural show, music and entertainment. The Red Devils will be dropping in on the Sunday; there will be helicopter rides; you can find out about all things sheepish with the highly entertaining ‘Sheep Show’ which includes dancing sheep (!); the 3 Sixty Bicycle Stunt Team will thrill the crowds, and there will be a fantastic mounted display from Skinners Horse Victorian re-enactors.

In addition, the West Sussex Fire brigade will be bringing their information fire engine, which will contrast a great deal with an historic horse-drawn steam powered fire engine which will be mounting a display complete with ‘firemen’ in period costume! On the Saturday evening there will be a lantern parade and bonfire party, with lanterns made by children during ‘Wonderful Wednesday’ activity days
earlier in the summer.

The Museum is delighted that local Radio Station Spirit FM has confirmed its support
for the event, and they will be broadcasting live from the celebrations on the Saturday. Tickets for the Anniversary weekend must be bought in advance: they go on sale on Friday 14 May and can be bought direct from the Museum shop, or by calling 01243 811020, or on the Museum website www.wealddown.co.uk

Other activities planned for the year include the production of a superb Anniversary book covering the Museum’s development over the last four decades, and looking forward to the next 40 years. The Museum’s renowned Adult Learning Department will be marking the Anniversary with a one-day conference on Tuesday 28 September entitled ‘Building Conservation Comes of Age’. This will explore building conservation’s journey from avant-garde to mainstream, and is sure to be of interest to anyone involved in this field. The Schools Services Department has created a display featuring memories of school visits since the Museum opened, and is also running a Ruby Garden Competition for primary and SEN schools in West Sussex, with the overall winner enjoying a school visit to the Museum for up to 60 pupils.

The final celebration will be a Ruby Anniversary Charity Ball on 27 November, to be held in the award-winning Jerwood Gridshell Space. This event will raise future funds for the Museum, which is a registered charity, helping it to safeguard the buildings in its care, and also supporting the Museum’s valuable research, conservation and education work in support of our rural heritage.

For further details of the Museum’s 40th Year, including ticket information for the Anniversary Weekend, Conference and Charity Ball, please call the Museum on 01243 811363.