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Museums long ago ceased to be stuffy
rooms full of glass cases containing bits of old pottery
and fossilised bones.
Today even most conventional museums including displays
which change but over recent years there has been a
growth in industrial and "living" museums. Here you can
learn about local heritage, get a feel for how people
lived and worked, the hardships they endured...
Galleries listed include not just civic
galleries displaying publicly owned artworks, but also
privately owned galleries with items for sale. Not all the
museums and galleries in the Sussex area are listed.
Please provide details of any we have missed here.
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BENTLEY WILDFOWL & MOTOR
MUSEUM
Harveys Lane, Halland, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8
5AF
Tel: 01825 840573
E-mail:
barrysutherland@pavilion.co.uk
Web:
www.bentley.org.uk
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Something for everyone
with one of the largest waterfowl collections
including Swans, Geese, Ducks, Cranes and
Flamingos in a natural setting. The Motor Museum
has over 100 exhibits including Veteran,
Edwardian, Vintage and Classic cars and bikes. |
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The Gardens are a
reflection of the house with a series of rooms
divided by yew hedges. There is a Woodland
Trail, Indoor Trail, Adventure Playground,
Picnic Area, Tearoom and Craft Workshops.
Disabled access; free electric wheelchairs
available on request. Free parking. Assistance
dogs only (except in wildfowl reserve).
Please visit our website for details of opening
times and admission charges.
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HOW WE LIVED THEN MUSEUM
OF SHOPS
20 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, East Sussex,
BN21 4NS
Tel: 01323 737143
E-mail:
howwelivedthen@btconnect.com
20 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne (just off the
seafront between War Memorial roundabout and
theatres). Visit the Famous South Coast Museum
of Shops. See over 100,000 exhibits, collected
during the past 50 years, on four floors of old
shops, room-settings and displays. School and
other parties welcomed (reduced rates and work
sheets on application). Interesting Gift Shop at
entrance. Open all year. 7 days 10am - 5pm.
Please confirm times throughout the Winter
months as bad weather often encourages early
closing.
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THE REGENCY TOWN HOUSE
TOUR
13 Brunswick Square, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1EH
Tel: 01273 206306
E-mail:
info@rth.org.uk
Tours available throughout the year, please call
to confirm times and prices.
Explore Regency life and the development of
Brunswick town designed by Charles Busby in the
1820's during a guided tour. Look at Busby’s
drawings of the project and visit the ‘Regency’
town house, which is undergoing restoration.
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ANNE OF CLEVES HOUSE
MUSEUM
52 Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex,
BN7 1JA
Tel: 01273 474610
E-mail:
anne@sussexpast.co.uk
Web:
www.sussexpast.co.uk
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Part of the
divorce settlement made by Henry VIII to
Anne of Cleves, this lovely Wealden
hall-house is now a popular venue for
weddings and a range of other events. |
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On display are artefacts including Wealden
ironwork, firebacks, cannon and the story of Lewes
from the 16th century to the present day.
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BOOTH MUSEUM OF NATURAL
HISTORY
194 Dyke Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 5AA
Tel: 01273 292777
E-mail:
museums@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Originally built to house his private
collection, Edward Thomas Booth (born 1840)
spent much of his time collecting, stuffing and
casing birds. Bequeathed to the Brighton
Corporation, several other collections have
since been added and the museum now illustrates
the evolution of wildlife and the natural world.
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HOVE MUSEUM & ART GALLERY
19 New Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 4AB
Tel: 01273 290200
E-mail:
museums@brighton-hove.gov.uk
The museum is split into a number of galleries
including the Wizard's Attic which contains toys
and interactive exhibits regarding children's
lives, a local gallery plus other exhibits
regarding the town's pioneer film-makers. There
are also new contemporary craft galleries
that showcase star objects from the collection,
introduce some of the key craft pioneers of the
20th century and explore the process of craft
making.
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BRIGHTON MUSEUM & ART
GALLERY
Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, East Sussex,
BN1 1EE
Tel: 01273 290900
E-mail:
museums@brighton-hove.gov.uk
The museum houses everything from fine art, Art
Nouveau, Art Deco, fashion items from the 1800s
onwards, the Willett Collection of pottery and
porcelain, ethnography and furniture. Plus,
these outstanding buildings were originally
stables and a riding school for Prince Regent.
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ROYAL PAVILION
Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton, East Sussex,
BN1 1EE
Tel: 01273 290900
E-mail:
royalpavilion@brighton-hove.gov.uk
John Nash transformed the spectacular seaside
palace of the Prince Regent (George IV) between
1815 and 1822 into one of the most dazzling and
exotic buildings in the British Isles. The Royal
Pavilion houses furniture and works of art
including original pieces lent by HM The Queen
and a magnificent display of Regency
silver-gilt. Glorious decorations and fantastic
furnishings have been re-created in a £10
million extensive restoration programme. The
Queen Adelaide tearooms provide a sweeping view
over the Pavilion gardens, which have also been
returned to their original Regency splendour.
(No access available for wheelchair users to the
upper floor)
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PRESTON MANOR
Preston Drove, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 6SD
Tel: 01273 292770
E-mail:
museums@brighton-hove.gov.uk
Experience the charms of this delightful old
Manor House, dating from 1250. Rebuilt in 1738
and added to in 1905, it powerfully evokes the
atmosphere of an Edwardian gentry home both
'Upstairs' and 'Downstairs'. Explore more than
twenty rooms over four floors from the superbly
renovated servants' quarters in the basement to
the children's day nursery on the upper floor.
The house contains notable collections of
furniture, portraits, silver and family
memorabilia. Preston Manor is situated next to
Preston Park in Preston Drove, 2 miles (5
minutes drive) north of central Brighton on the
A23. Nearest train station is Preston Park. Open
April to September.
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HASTINGS MUSEUM & ART
GALLERY
Johns Place, Bohemia Road, Hastings, East
Sussex, TN34 1ET
Tel: 01424 451155
Hastings Museum and Art
Gallery contains fine paintings and china, the
cultures of other lands and a contrasting view
of local wildlife today and as it would have
been 150 million years ago. There are plenty of
special features for children with fossils,
local animals and a display on the Hastings born
conservationist, Grey Owl.
The most spectacular
part of the museum is the magnificent Durbar
Hall constructed for the Indian and Colonial
Exhibition of 1886. There is also a wide ranging
programme of exhibitions by the very best local
artists, national touring exhibitions and local
history topics.
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REDOUBT FORTRESS &
MILITARY MUSEUM
Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN22
7AQ
Tel: 01323 410300 Fax: 01323
438827
E-mail:
redoubtmuseum@eastbourne.gov.uk
Open: 1st April to 5th November, Tuesday
to Sunday 10am - 5pm.
Closed Mondays.
Arguably one of
Eastbourne's hidden treasures, this impressive
circular fortress was built between 1804-1810 to
defend the coast from possible invasion from
Napoleonic France. Now restored, it houses one
of the south's largest military museums.
Collections on display include uniforms, medals
and documents from the Sussex Combined Services,
The Royal Sussex Regiment and the Queen's Royal
Irish Hussars.
Since 2004 an
ongoing programme of redevelopment has been
taking place at the Redoubt. With a new
welcoming entrance area and signs throughout the
building visitor facilities have already been
improved. In addition there are a number of
refurbished displays and a major new exhibition
for 2006 supported by a series of events. |
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THE BRIGHTON TOY & MODEL
MUSEUM
52-55 Trafalgar Street, Brighton, East Sussex,
BN1 4EB
Tel: 01273 749494
E-mail:
info@brightontoymuseum.co.uk
Web:
www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk
Open: All
year. Tues to
Fri, 10am - 5pm.
Sat 11am - 5pm.
Last admission
4pm.
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With a collection of
teddy bears, dolls, planes, forts and trains and
Toy & Model film memorabilia. The museum is
located in four of the arches under Brighton
Railway Station.
The museum covers
over 4,000 square feet with over 25,000 exhibits
and has an 'Aladdin's Cave' atmosphere.
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Events and
exhibitions are held throughout the year, please
contact us for more information.
For further details on our b&b near Hastings,
Sussex see our website.
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East Grinstead Museum
Old Market Yard, Cantelupe Road, East Grinstead,
Sussex, RH19 3BJ
Tel: 01342 302233
E-mail:
info@eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk
Web:
www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk
With exciting,
brand-new displays, tracing the history of the
town and its neighbourhood, its characters,
events, trades and institutions, we look
forward to welcoming local people and visitors
to the area. |
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Our longer opening hours and convenient new
location, close to East Grinstead's historic
medieval High Street, as well as free admission,
will make dropping in to a look round the museum a
local habit.
If you are into family or
local history, why not make use of our new
research room.
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MARLIPINS MUSEUM
High Street, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex,
BN43 5DA
Tel: 01273 462994 or 01323 441279
E-mail:
smomich@sussexpast.co.uk
Web:
www.sussexpast.co.uk
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Marlipins
Museum, at 36 High Street,
Shoreham-by-Sea, reopened to the public
on 1st May 2004 with new displays and two
new galleries after an extensive period
of redevelopment. |
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The doors are open from 10.30am to 4.30pm, Tuesday
to Saturday. Please see our website for further
information.
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Newhaven Local & Maritime
Museum
Garden Paradise, Avis Way, Newhaven, East
Sussex, BN9 0DH
Tel: 01273 612530
E-mail:
info@newhavenmuseum.co.uk
The Museum is situated adjacent to Paradise Park
in Avis Road Newhaven, and has on display over
Eleven Thousand Photographs and artefacts of
local interest. In addition a collection of
items recovered from local wrecks by local
divers is on display. The museum is open
Saturday and Sunday afternoons throughout the
year and also on Wednesday afternoons during the
summer months. Special openings at other times
can be arranged by contacting the Hon Curator Mr
Peter Bailey on 01273 612530 during museum
opening times.
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THE PRIEST HOUSE
North Lane, West Hoathly, West Sussex, RH19
4PP
Tel: 01342 810479
E-mail:
priest@sussexpast.co.uk
Web:
www.sussexpast.co.uk
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Standing in
the beautiful surroundings of a
traditional cottage garden on the edge of
Ashdown Forest, the Priest House is an
early 15th century timber-framed
hall-house with a dramatic roof of
Horsham stone. |
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It was probably built for the Priory of St Pancras
in Lewes and in Elizabethan times was modernised
into a substantial Yeomen’s dwelling. It is now a
museum containing a fascinating array of domestic
country furniture, kitchen equipment, needlework
and household items.
Outside there is a formal herb garden containing
over 170 culinary, medicinal and folklore herbs.
Please see our website for further information.
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Court Hall Museum
High Street, Winchelsea, East Sussex, TN36 4EA
Tel: 01797 226382
Housed in the oldest building in Winchelsea,
exhibits include a town model that shows the
effect of the sea retreating from the town.
Exhibits relating to the time that the town was
one of the Cinque Ports can also be found here.
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Fisherman's Museum
Rock A Nore Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34
3DW
Tel: 01424 461446
Found amongst the Tudor net shops on the beach,
in a former fishermen's church, the exhibition
includes the lugger 'Enterprise' (built in 1909)
fully rigged for sea. Also to be found here are
a number of models, the last horse capstans
(used for dragging the boats up the beach) and a
painting of Sir Winston Churchill from 1955.
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Seaford Museum of Local
History
Martello Tower, The Esplanade, Seaford, East
Sussex, BN25 1JJ
Tel: 01323 898222
The museum is housed in one of the Martello
Towers; these were built as protection from
invasion during the Napoleonic Wars. The one in
Seaford was completely restored in the late
1970's and artefacts regarding the towns history
plus re-constructions of shop and domestic
scenes (such as a Victorian kitchen, grocer's
shop, school and chemist) can be found inside.
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Bexhill Museum of Costume
& Social History Association
Manor Gardens, Upper Sea Road, Bexhill-On-Sea,
East Sussex, TN40 1RL
Tel: 01424 210045
Includes exhibitions relating to the history of
Bexhill and the natural history, geology and
archaeology of Sussex.
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Brighton Fishing Museum
201 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, East Sussex,
BN1 1NB
Tel: 01273 723064
Seafront museum depicting history of the fishing
industry and Brighton seaside. Nostalgic
exhibition set amidst arches still used by
working fishermen. Host to annual Mackerel Fair
and Blessing of the Nets in May. Shellfish,
fresh fish stalls and traditional smoker.
Skylark trips on fair weather days. Museum shop.
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Towner Art Gallery & Local
Museum
High Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1HG
Tel: 01323 411688
Bequeathed to Eastbourne by Alderman John
Chisolm Towner in 1920, the original twenty-one
paintings have now grown to over two thousand
works of art, including prints, lithographs,
sculpture, ceramics, wood engravings and
paintings. Artists such as Bloomsbury Group,
Ceri Richards, Eric Ravilious and Christopher
Wood are featured.
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Crawley Museum
Goffs Park House, Horsham Rd, Crawley, West
Sussex, RH11 8PB
Tel: 01293 539088
Located next to Goffs Park House on the
outskirts of Crawley, exhibits showing the
town’s history as far back as the Bronze Age are
rotated on a regular basis.
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Steyning Museum
The Museum, Church St, Steyning, West Sussex,
BN44 3YB
Tel: 01903 813333
Steyning dates from Saxon times and the museum
charts the changes from port to market town.
Open all year. Please contact for times.
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Ditchling Museum
Church Lane, Ditchling, Hassocks, West Sussex,
BN6 8TB
Tel: 01273 844744
E-mail:
info@ditchling-museum.com
Open: Tues to Sat 10.30am - 5pm. Sun 2pm - 5pm.
Closed Dec 22nd to Feb 13th.
Housed in an old school, displays show almost
every aspect of daily life in England through
the ages. Sculptor, engraver and designer of
typefaces Eric Gill, the calligrapher and
typographer Edward Johnston, the weaver Ethel
Mairet, and the artist Sir Frank Brangwyn, plus
several others who are well known famous people
in the arts and crafts world have lived in
Ditchling and their life and work are well
represented in the museum. Running programme of
high quality special exhibitions throughout the
year. Bookings taken at all times throughout the
year by prior arrangement for groups which can
include a conducted tour of the village, and we
also have programmes of arranged activities for
school parties, and an active Friends'
Association. A gift shop and cafe are also
available.
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The Mechanical Music &
Doll Collection
Church Road, Portfield, Chichester, West Sussex,
PO19 7HN
Tel: 01243 372646
Opening Times: June, July, August & September,
Wednesday afternoons only. Group bookings at all
other times by prior arrangement. Housed in a
Victorian church, 100 years of mechanical music
are represented by beautifully restored
instruments that play songs from the Victorian
parlour, the Edwardian street and the English
fairground. Also to be viewed are fascinating
Victorian and Edwardian artefacts such as Edison
phonographs, early horned gramophones and
stereoscopic viewers. Over 100 Victorian and
Edwardian dolls are also on display.
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Bognor Regis Museum
69 High Street, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21
1RY
Tel: 01243 865636
Features include shop window displays,
memorabilia, Edwardian kitchen, local fossils
and temporary exhibitions.
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Littlehampton Museum
The Manor House, Church Street, Littlehampton,
West Sussex, BN17 5EW
Tel: 01903 738100
E-mail:
littlehamptonmuseum@arun.gov.uk
Open all year. Tues to Sat, 10.30am - 4.30pm.
Local history includes in-depth information on
Littlehampton’s history, maritime and photograph
connection. Three exhibition rooms holding an
ever changing programme of exhibitions
throughout the year. Well laid out and worth a
visit.
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Chichester District Museum
29 Little London, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19
1PB
Tel: 01243 784683
Take a historic trip around Roman, medieval,
Georgian and Victorian Chichester. The mosaic
from East Street, stocks and many other
treasures can be seen in this museum which is
located in an eighteenth-century corn store.
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Fishbourne Roman Palace
Roman Way, Salthill Rd, Fishbourne, Chichester,
West Sussex, PO19 3QR
Tel: 01243 785859
E-mail:
adminfish@sussexpast.co.uk
See Britain’s finest collection of in-situ Roman
mosaics at Fishbourne. The 1st Century palace
was discovered in 1960. Twenty mosaics are on
display along with the remains of hypocausts,
courtyards, corridors and a bath suite. A museum
displays finds, while an audio-visual
presentation brings the site to life. Outside,
the superb Roman garden has been replanted to
its original plan. Guided tours at weekends.
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Weald & Downland Open Air
Museum
Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU
Tel: 01243 811348 Fax:
01243 811475
E-mail:
office@wealddown.co.uk
In the heart of the beautiful South Downs is
England’s leading museum of historic buildings
and traditional rural life. More than 500 years
of architectural heritage is represented,
including the recreated Bayleaf medieval
farmstead, a 17thC working watermill, Tudor
kitchen and Downland Gridshell. Heavy horses,
shop, café, crafts, picnic area and dogs on
leads welcome.
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Petworth Cottage Museum
346 High Street, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0AU
Tel: 01798 342100
Once the home of Mrs Mary Cummings, seamstress
at Petworth House, the inside can be seen as it
was in 1910.
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Amberley Museum
Station Road, Amberley, Arundel, West Sussex,
BN18 9LT
Tel: 01798 831370
Sussex’s best kept secret! Over 36 acres of fun,
inside and out, for the whole family! Travel
across site by vintage bus and narrow gauge
railway. See our craftspeople in action and
learn some tricks of the trade. Use interactive
displays in our telecommunication and
electricity halls! Enjoy the nature trails,
café, gift shop, picnic areas and much, much
more!
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Horsham Museum
9 The Causeway, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1HE
Tel: 01403 254959
A fascinating museum is housed in a sixteenth
century half-timbered building. Exhibits include
ceramics, furniture, social life, exotica,
costume, local history, plus reconstructed
wheelwrights and blacksmiths shop. A saddler's
shop, town history, a collection of early
bicycles, a gallery on farming life and a
display about the poet Shelley that includes
many first and early editions are also
available.
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Pallant House Gallery
9 North Pallant, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19
1TJ
Tel: 01243 774557
E-mail:
info@pallant.org.uk
Located in a fully restored Queen Anne town
house and contemporary building. 20th century
art from artists such as Piper, Moore,
Sutherland and many more can be found. Excellent
temporary exhibitions held throughout the year.
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Zimmer Stewart Gallery
29 Tarrant Street, Arundel, West Sussex,
BN18 9DG
Tel: 01323 870001 Mobile: 07901
677933
E-mail:
james@zimmerstewart.co.uk
We provide a range of contemporary art in all
mediums from living artists (both new and
established). We change exhibitions every month,
so there is always something new to see. Please
have a look at our website to see what's on now.
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Monk’s House
Rodmell, Lewes, BN7 3HF
Tel: 01903 885867 Mobile: 07901
677933
E-mail:
monkshouse@nationaltrust.org.uk
Country retreat of the novelist Virginia Woolf.
This small weather-boarded house was the home of
Leonard and Virginia Woolf until Leonard’s death
in 1969. The rooms reflect the life and times of
the literary circle in which they moved. The
garden writing room where Virginia used to work
now houses extracts from her diaries and a
display of her photographs.
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