25 years on and a bit of culture.

On Tuesday the 18th of May, hubby and I celebrated our silver wedding anniversary. We decided to go out for the day, the previous week we stumbled across a sign to the Weald & Downland living museum (which is all open air). We pulled over to the side of the road and googled it. Of course because of these weird Covid times, a slot needed to be pre booked, and not of course before the 17th of May when the next phase of the governments roadmap started. Well we didn’t waste any time and were pleased there was availability on our wedding anniversary.

 

Due to the nature of the museum we would not be able to access every part, I didn’t mind that and completely understood. We purchased our tickets which was for one disabled person and the Carer goes free, and that meant it cost a staggering £5! Well, hubby always said he was a cheap date (of course we didn’t have to pay for my mate MS as most of the time she remains out of sight).

Not sure what to expect, we arrived and went immediately to use the toilet facilities. For those of you who remember I used to write another blog called the Accessible Bog Blog, well I didn’t take a photo but if I’d kept up to date with it, this particular accessible toilet was top notch.

We went along to the entrance, everything was laid out in a Covid friendly manner and all we had to do was display the email on my phone and put it in front of their scanner, and it showed we had paid our entrance fee. Through the Perspex glass the lady explained everything and couldn’t be any more helpful.

So what is this museum? Well if you are from down this way it would be a place that every school child went too on a school visit. Basically Weald&Downland living museum rescue and conserve historic buildings, and teach traditional trades and crafts to ensure their preservation, and guess what, it’s where the Repair Shop have their barn and film.

 

I couldn’t quite get my head around the fact that a 16^th century shed where bricks were manufb by actured could be taken to pieces and moved to just up the road from Petersfield, and put back together again, in all it was approximately 80ft long.

  

A little further on we came across a water mill where flour was manufactured. Although I could not climb the steps to the top of the mill, I could still see plenty from the bottom and using a smart phone hubby was available to take photos from the top and show me after, so I really didn’t miss out on anything.

 

Next we came across a market hall which was brought from Titchfield in the 1620s.

 

They even had a section on weather and the folklores that surrounded the sayings, including a mock up of a sun dial.

 

After seeing a cottage we stumbled across a tread wheel, I must confess I have never seen one before and don’t even remember learning about them in history when I was at school. This one though, dated back to the 17^th century.

 

We then walked around the fields and took in some lovely views and saw some more cottages. The whole museum is set in 40 acres of Hampshire countryside.

 

Time to go home and a couple more pictures, one taken outside a Shepard’s caravan, and the other outside a turnpike gate.

 

 

A great day out and one that I would highly recommend, especially if you visit the café or purchase one of their picnics. We now have annual membership for the crazy price of £10 (disability price).
A lovely anniversary and in true tradition my next adventure will be the virtual Prestwood 10k!