MUSEUMS IN SUSSEX

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Sussex Museums Group

The Sussex Museums Group (SMG) is a cultural community dedicated to promoting, supporting & connecting museums & galleries in Sussex.

SMG's website helps visitors to explore Sussex museums and to discover their hidden treasures in the beautiful county of Sussex. Whether you are visiting a particular part of Sussex and want to locate the nearest museum, or you just want to find out about the museums on your doorstep, their website is a valuable resource.

Sussex Museums Group is a cultural community dedicated to promoting, supporting and connecting museums and galleries in Sussex. The Group aims to promote excellence of all levels in Sussex museums, to provide a forum for Members to debate museum and gallery issues, and to ensure that Sussex museums have a voice in the cultural community.

A-Z OF MUSEUMS IN SUSSEX

There are many Sussex museums that you could decide to visit and they all have a different specialism. A lot of history museums in Sussex are dedicated to local history and you will find lots of small museums dotted about the county. Why not take a day out to explore museums in Sussex? Listed below are Sussex museums that have great things to do and lots to learn from.

East Sussex:

• Battle Museum

• Yesterdays World – Battle

• Bexhill Museum

• Brighton Fishing Museum

• Mechanical Memories Amusement Museum - Brighton

• Stanmer Rural Museum – Brighton

• Ditchling Museum

• Eastbourne Heritage Centre

• How We Lived Then – Eastbourne

• The Redoubt Fortress – Eastbourne

• Towner Art Gallery – Eastbourne

• Fisherman’s Museum – Hastings

• Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

• Herstmonceux Museum - Ye old generating works

• Sussex Farm Museum – Horam

• The Regency Town House – Hove

• Newhaven Fort

• Newhaven Local and Maritime Museum

• Rye Art Gallery

• Rye Castle Museum

• Seaford Museum of Local History

• Stone Cross Windmill

West Sussex:

• Amberly Museum

• Arundel Museum

• Bluebell Railway Museum

• Bognor Regis Wireless Museum

• Bognor Regis Local History Society Museum

• Chichester District Museum

• Mechanical Music and Dolls House Museum - Chichester

• Ifield Watermill – Crawley

• Crawley Museum Centre

• Cuckfield Museum

• Fishbourne Roman Palace

• Henfield Museum

• Horsham Museum

• Hurstpierpoint Museum Group

• Littlehampton Museum

• Marlipins Museum – Shoreham

• Steyning Museum

• Storrington and District Museum

• Tangmere Militaru Aviation Museum Trust

• Weald and Downland Open Air Museum

• Worthing Museum and Art Gallery

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On the South Downs near Birling Gap, East Sussex

Arundel Museum

c/o the Town Hall, Maltravers Street, Arundel BN18 9AP

At present working from temporary accommodation at the Information Centre. Crown Yard. Arundel awaiting a new building, which should open 2013.

Contact details

Telephone: 01903 882456

Email: info@arundelmuseum.org

Website: www.arundelmuseum.org.uk

Bexhill Museum

Egerton Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN39 3HL

Bexhill Museum offers something for everyone, from local history and archaeology to fashion and Bexhill's motor heritage. The unique collections are housed in a distinctive building which combines a traditional Edwardian museum with a modern extension. Highlights include the original architect's model of the De La Warr Pavilion, the 'Old Windmill' painting by L.S. Lowry and a beautifully restored prototype of the 1950s Elva sports car. Located just off the seafront and overlooking the beautiful Egerton Park with free on-street parking. Facilities include full accessibility for the disabled, shop, refreshments, lift, WCs, free children's activity sheets.

Telephone: 01424 787950

Email: enquiries@bexhillmuseum.co.uk

Website: www.bexhillmuseum.co.uk

Eastbourne Redoubt – Fortress & Museum

Royal Parade, Eastbourne BN22 7AQ

Built to keep Napoleon’s forces out, the Redoubt now welcomes you in to discover more than 200 years of history within its walls. Today this impressive seafront fortress houses the rich military collections of The Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars, The Royal Sussex Regiment and the Sussex Combined Services collection. There are lots of opportunities to get hands-on with the collections in the galleries or come to one of our many family friendly events. Please call or see website for details.

Telephone: 01323 410300

Email: redoubtmuseum@eastbourne.gov.uk

Website: www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk

Hastings Fishermen’s Museum

Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings TN34 3DW

The Fishermen’s Museum is one of the biggest attractions in Hastings. People come through the doors every year to see the many photographs, paintings and historic objects and to climb aboard the last of the local sailing luggers, built in 1912. The Museum is set amongst the unique net shops, the tall black sheds in which fishermen used to keep all their fishing gear. The net shop next to the Museum has a display of such equipment, and several old fishing boats are also on show on the adjoining beach.

Opening Hours

Winter: Oct – Mar, 11am – 4pm
Summer: Apr – Sept, 10am – 5pm
Open all year except Christmas Day

Contact details

Telephone: 01424 461446

Email: hastingsfishmermensmuseum@ohps.org

Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

Johns Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings TN34 1ET

Hastings Museum & Art Gallery has extremely rich and varied collections, with artefacts from prehistory to the present day and from every continent. Its collections include fine and decorative arts, local and natural history, and world art, including significant Native American collections. The most spectacular part of the Museum is the magnificent Durbar Hall, constructed for the 1886 Indian & Colonial Exhibition, which now also offers a unique venue for weddings and civil partnerships. There are plenty of special features for children, from fossils that transform into dinosaurs and free activity books to a play corner and dressing up.

Telephone: 01424 451052

Email: museum@hastings.gov.uk

Website: www.hmag.org.uk

Herstmonceux Museum

Herstmonceux Museum is a monument to the early electrical generating age. The wooden building once provided electricity to the whole village of Herstmonceux before 1913. The complex survived the First and Second World Wars to become the workshops for a local inventor and artist for over 30 years, many of which inventions (cars and boats) are on display. The museum is run by the Lime Park Heritage Trust. Admission is by arrangement for archaeological groups only at present.

Lime Park, Herstmonceux, BN27 1RF

Telephone: 01323 831727

Email: energy@solarnavigator.net

Website: http://www.cherrymortgages.com/historic_britain/museums_sussex.htm

Ifield Watermill

off Hyde Drive, Ifield, Crawley RH11 0PL

Ifield Watermill is thought to be the only working Watermill in West Sussex still powered by its original water source. Rebuilt after a fire in 1683, it was definitely in operation and used to grind corn from 1660 which it continued to do until the late 1920s after which it was left to deteriorate. In 1974 restoration work began and work continues to this day. As well as holding demonstrations of corn being ground, the Watermill also has a variety of related displays. It opens regularly to the public and can be opened specially for group visits.

Telephone: 01293 539088

Email: office@crawleymuseums.org

Website: www.crawleymuseums.org

Lewes Castle

169 High Street, Lewes BN7 1YE

Climb to the top of this 1000 year old Norman Castle for stunning panoramic views across Sussex. The adjoining Barbican House is home to the fascinating Museum of Sussex Archaeology and a mini cinema which tells the story of Lewes and the Castle from prehistoric to medieval times.

Admission Fees

Adult £6.60, child £3.30, concessions £5.90, family £17.80

Contact details

Telephone: 01273 486290

Email: castleshop@sussexpast.co.uk

Website: www.sussexpast.co.uk/properties-to-discover/lewes-castle

Newhaven Fort

Fort Road, Newhaven BN9 9DS

An award-winning attraction and a fine example of an English fortification, Newhaven Fort has the sights, sounds - even the smells - of the period, all found in a range of exhibitions and audio-visual presentations. Offering the perfect family day out, there is so much to explore at Newhaven Fort, including the vast, echoing tunnels built into the chalk cliffs. Experience a sense of freedom in this 10-acre site as you stroll along the ramparts and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views of the South Downs and Sussex Coast. The cliff-top gun emplacements are sure to fire any imagination!

Admission Fees

Adult £6.00 Senior/Concession £5.00 Child £4.00 Family (2 Adults & 2/3 Children) £18.70 Disabled Adult £3.25 Disabled Child Free Entry

Contact details

Telephone: 01273 517622

Email: info@newhavenfort.org.uk

Website: www.newhavenfort.org.uk

Rye Castle Museum

3 East Street, Rye TN31 7JY

Rye Castle Museum exists to provide access to an Ancient Monument (the Ypres Tower) and a collection of artefacts that reflect the history of the town of Rye and to ensure their continuous conservation and development and also to promote them to residents and visitors of all ages so that they can appreciate and understand the unique character of Rye and its surrounding landscape.

Admission Fees

Ypres Tower: adults £3.00, conc. £2.50, children free
East Street: adults £1.50, conc. £1.00, children free
Joint tickets and group rates available

Contact details

Telephone: 01797 226728

Email: info@ryemuseum.co.uk

Website: www.ryemuseum.co.uk

Seaford Museum of Local History

Martello Tower, 74 The Esplanade, PO Box 2132, Seaford BN25 9BH

Housed in a Grade 2-listed Martello Tower on the seafront, the museum displays all aspects of the local history of an ancient Cinque Port. The displays include shops and room settings, domestic memorabilia and a large collection of early wireless, gramophones and TV sets. There is also an archive and photographic collection, together with a Register of all houses in the town, with their histories where possible.

Admission Fees

Adults £1.50; Children 50p; Concessions £1.00; Members Free

Contact details

Telephone: 01323 898222

Email: info@seafordmuseum.co.uk

Website: www.seafordmuseum.co.uk

Tangmere Military Aviation Museum

Tangmere, near Chichester West Sussex PO20 2ES

Founded in 1982 and staffed entirely by volunteers, the museum is located on the site of a former RAF fighter station famous for its role in the Battle of Britain. Tangmere was also one of the main RAF bases covering the D-Day landings, and during the postwar period was the scene of two successful attempts on the World Air Speed Record. The museum has extensive collections of historic aircraft and aviation memorabilia. Amongst the many visitor attractions are numerous interactive displays and aircraft simulators for adults and children. There is a café and gift shop.

The museum is open every day between February 1st and November 30th March to October: 10.00am to 5.30pm February and November: 10.00am to 4.30pm

Admission Fees

Adults: £9.00 (£7.00 on production of Service ID) Over 60s: £7.00 Children between 5 and 16: £3.00 Children under 5: FREE Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children): £21.00 Schools visits are particularly welcome. The museum’s Education Department offers tailored programmes for primary and secondary pupils. Contact us for more details. Adult groups are also welcome. A 10% discount is applied for groups of 12 or more providing the visit is booked in advance and that payment is made by single transaction.

Contact details

Telephone: 01243 790090

Email: info@tangmere-museum.org.uk

Website: www.tangmere-museum.org.uk

Museums on Wikipedia - E. Sussex - W. Sussex

Name	Town/City	Region	Type	Summary
1066 Battle Of Hastings, Abbey & Battlefield	Battle	Rother	History	Operated by the English Heritage, includes the abbey ruins, visitor centre, battlefield site
Alfriston Clergy House	Alfriston	Wealden	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, 14th century Wealden hall house with a thatched roof
Anne of Cleves House	Lewes	Lewes	Historic house	15th century Wealden hall house with local history displays, furniture and decorative items from different periods
Bateman's	Burwash	Rother	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, 17th-century house owned by author Rudyard Kipling, includes working watermill
Battle Museum of Local History	Battle	Rother	Local	information, local history, prehistoric, Roman, medieval, 17th/18th centuries, and local industryies such as iron, leather and gunpowder
Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum	Halland	Wealden	Multiple	Palladian mansion with furnishings, automobile museum, gardens, wildfowl reserve, miniature steam train, woodlands
Bexhill Museum	Bexhill-on-Sea	Rother	Multiple	website, local history, natural history, fashion, dinosaurs, stone-age life, Ancient Egyptians, military, world cultures, British motor racing
Bluebell Railway	Fletching	Lewes	Transport	Heritage railway with museum displays at the Sheffield Park railway station
Bodiam Castle	Robertsbridge	Rother	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, 14th century moated castle in ruins, periodic living history demonstrations
Booth Museum of Natural History	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Natural history	Victorian-style dioramas of British birds in their habitat settings, butterflies, British fossils, animal bones
Brede Waterworks	Brede	Rother	Technology	Former waterworks with working steam engines
Brighton Fishing Museum	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Maritime	Local fishing industry, boats
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Multiple	Art, decorative arts, natural history, puppets, fashion, world culture artifacts, Egyptian artifacts, local history
Brighton Toy and Model Museum	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Toy	Formerly the Sussex Toy And Model Museum, toys, dolls, model trains, puppets, penny arcade games, toy military dioramas
British Engineerium	Hove	Brighton and Hove	Technology	Victorian pumping station with beam engines, planned museum
Charleston Farmhouse	Firle	Lewes	Historic house	Country home of the Bloomsbury group, interior decorations by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell, exhibit gallery for fine and decorative art
De La Warr Pavilion	Bexhill-on-Sea	Rother	Art	Contemporary arts centre
Ditchling Museum	Ditchling	Lewes	Multiple	website, local art, crafts and applied art, local history
Eastbourne Heritage Centre	Eastbourne	Eastbourne	Local	website, operated by the Eastbourne Society
Eastbourne Redoubt	Eastbourne	Eastbourne	Military	Early 19th-century fort, includes collections of The Royal Sussex Regiment, Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, vehicles, weapons, uniforms, medals
Eastbourne RNLI Museum	Eastbourne	Eastbourne	Maritime	website, history of area lifeboat rescuing, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Farley Farm House	Chiddingly	Wealden	Art	Home of photographer Lee Miller and biographer of Picasso, Roland Penrose, exhibits of Surrealist and Modern art
Firle Place	Firle	Lewes	Historic house	18th-century country estate with fine art and furnishings, gardens
Flower Makers' Museum	Hastings	Hastings	Textile	information, original company tools of the trade, machines and fabrics for making artificial flowers
Glynde Place	Glynde	Lewes	Historic house	Elizabethan manor house, gardens
Grange Museum & Art Gallery	Rottingdean	Brighton and Hove	Multiple	website, local history, art
Great Dixter	Northiam	Rother	Historic house	Medieval timber-framed manor house, Arts and Crafts style gardens
Hastings Fishermen's Museum	Hastings	Hastings	Maritime	Local fishing industry, boats, The Stade
Hastings Lifeboat	Hastings	Hastings	Maritime	website, visitor centre with film, viewing of the lifeboats
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery	Hastings	Hastings	Multiple	Art, local history, art and artifacts of the Indian subcontinent, decorative arts, natural history, Native American artifacts
Heritage Mill, North Chailey	Chailey	Lewes	Mill	Early 19th century windmill
Hove Museum and Art Gallery	Hove	Brighton and Hove	Multiple	Art, contemporary crafts, local history, toys, early cinema artifacts
How We Lived Then	Eastbourne	Eastbourne	History	website, authentic Victorian period shops, room settings, displays covering 100 years of shopping and social history
Kent and East Sussex Railway	Northiam	Rother	Railway	Heritage railway, accessed at the Northiam railway station
Lamb House	Rye	Rother	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, 18th-century house with literary connections including Henry James, E.F. Benson and Rumer Godden
Lavender Line	Isfield	Wealden	Railway	Heritage railway and exhibits including model railway at the Isfield railway station
Lewes Castle	Lewes	Lewes	History	11th century motte and bailey castle, includes Barbican House Museum with archaeology and medieval life displays, and the Town Model of Lewes
Mechanical Memories Museum	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Amusement	website, working vintage penny slot machines
Michelham Priory	Upper Dicker	Wealden	Open air	Medieval priory house with furnishings from different periods, historic watermill, rope making museum, replica Iron Age roundhouse and other buildings, art exhibits, gardens
Monk's House	Rodmell	Lewes	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, 18th century cottage home of author Virginia Woolf and husband Leonard Woolf, connections to the Bloomsbury group
Musgrave Museum	Eastbourne	Eastbourne	Multiple	website, eclectic, personal art museum, collections of coins, old documents, Egyptian, and Victorian artifacts, art and archaeological artifacts relating to St. Paul
Newhaven Local & Maritime Museum	Newhaven	Lewes	Multiple	website, local history, maritime artifacts
Nutley Windmill	Nutley	Wealden	Mill	Early 19th century windmill
Observatory Science Center	Herstmonceux	Wealden	Science	website, located at Herstmonceux Castle estate
Old Police Cells Museum	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Law enforcement	website, history of the Sussex Police, housed in the basement of Brighton Town Hall
Ovenden's Mill	Polegate	Wealden	Mill	Early 19th century windmill
Planet Earth Museum	Newhaven	Lewes	Natural history	website, dinosaurs, fossils, geology
Preston Manor, Brighton	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Historic house	Early 20th century period Edwardian manor
Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum	Newhaven	Lewes	Military	Napoleonic-era fort and Martello tower with area military artefacts and memorabilia, exhibits on local military, World War I and World War II
Regency Town House	Hove	Brighton and Hove	Historic	website, 1820s townhouse with focus on the architecture and social history of Brighton & Hove between the 1780s and 1840s
Royal Pavilion	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Historic house	Early 19th century former royal seaside retreat, built in Indo-Saracenic style with lavish decorations and chinoiserie furnishings
Rye Art Gallery	Rye	Rother	Art	website
Rye Castle Museum	Rye	Rother	Multiple	Includes the Ypres Tower of the medieval castle, and the East Street Site with local history exhibits
Rye Heritage Centre	Rye	Rother	Local	website, local history using sound and light show, working collection of old pier amusement machines
Seaford Museum	Seaford	Lewes	Local	Located in a Martello tower, local history, military, period stores and rooms, household items, model railway, maritime heritage
Shipwreck Heritage Centre	Hastings	Hastings	Maritime	website, artifacts from local shipwrecks, rocks and fossils, changes in the coast, coastal defense
Stanmer Rural Museum	Stanmer	Brighton and Hove	Agriculture	website, rural life artifacts, farm tools and equipment, wagons, reconstructed blacksmith's forge, household items
Stone Cross Windmill	Stone Cross	Wealden	Mill	Late 19th century windmill
Towner	Eastbourne	Eastbourne	Art	Contemporary art museum and gallery
Volk's Electric Railway	Brighton	Brighton and Hove	Railway	Heritage railway that runs along a length of the seafront of Brighton
West Blatchington Windmill	West Blatchington	Brighton and Hove	Mill	Early 19th century windmill
Winchelsea Court Hall Museum	Winchelsea	Rother	Local	website, local history, maps, models, pictures, seals, local pottery and items of daily life
Windmill Hill Mill	Herstmonceux	Wealden	Mill	Early 19th century windmill
Yesterday's World	Battle	Rother	History	website, period shops, rooms, historic household memorabilia, British Royal Family memorabilia, World War II evacuee display