Henfield Museum
The Henfield Hall, Coopers Way, Henfield BN5 9DB
Managed by Henfield Parish Council
Opening Times
|
Mornings |
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday |
10.00 am - 12.00 |
|
Afternoons |
Wednesday
Saturday |
2.30 pm - 4.30 pm
2.30 pm - 4.00 pm |
CLOSED |
Sundays, Bank Holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year |
The Museum is happy to open at other times for group visits, by prior arrangement with the Curator
Parking
There is free parking outside in the public car park, with disabled parking bays.
How to find us
By car
The Museum is located in the Henfield Hall, Coopers Way, which turns east off Henfield High Street.
By bus
The following bus services stop in the High Street, a few minutes walk from the Museum
17 Brighton to Horsham
100 Burgess Hill to Pulborough
106 Henfield to Worthing
How to contact us
For general enquiries, via Henfield Parish Council office:
tel: 01273 492507 email: office@henfield.gov.uk
For special Museum visits by groups or schools, including guided tours of the village, please contact the Curator, Alan Barwick:
tel: 01273 493155 email: office@henfield.gov.uk (marked for the attention of Alan Barwick)
Background
The museum is owned and run by Henfield Parish Council. It began in a small way in 1948 gaining its first permanent site when the new village hall was built in 1974. The present building was opened in 1994.
Objects
The objects exhibited range from early fossils and flint implements, through the Medieval and Tudor era to the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods. Household objects from these times recall Henfield in the past. There are many farm tools on display with a horse-drawn plough together with a mid-Victorian pump outside.
Uniforms of the Sussex Rifle Volunteers Regiment take pride of place, not only because they belonged to prominent Henfield members, but also because they were made by Longley Bros. outfitters, close to the museum in Henfield High Street. Dresses from a more leisurely time show how Henfield ladies dressed in earlier times.
There is an extensive collection of local paintings and photographs showing the village, churches, farmhouses, country houses, cottages and rural lanes, etc.
An eight-change bell set made in the early Victorian period by local eccentric, Bob Ward, and a "penny farthing" bicycle made in 1887 by Mr. W. A. Powell who had a workshop in the High Street have a prime position in the Museum. Nearby is a one man ambulance purchased by the Parish Council in 1908 and in use until the 1930's. Railway relics remind us of the Horsham to Shoreham Railway closed in 1966.
Temporary Exhibitions
Temporary exhibitions on local themes are staged three times a year. The current exhibition is "Fans and Parasols" showing items from the Museum's collection from the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Accessibility
The Museum is on one level and is suitable for wheelchair access.
Toilets
Toilet facilities (including disabled) are available on site.
Refreshments
Refreshments are not available in the Museum but there are inns, restaurants and tearooms in the High Street, a few minutes’ walk away.
Education
The Museum runs educational activities tied to the school curriculum in collaboration with local schools. We also offer an outreach service to local nursing homes, conducting reminiscence sessions.
Research Facilities
Transcripts of the Census returns for Henfield, Shermanbury and Woodmancote are available to view during Museum opening hours.
Other archives relating to Henfield can be viewed by prior arrangement with the Curator.
The Museum’s Photographic Collection
The Museum holds a large collection of photographs of Henfield and negatives taken by Marjorie Baker, comprising mainly portrait work between 1930s and 1990s. For more details about the collection or for copies of images please contact the Curator.