1968 to the present
In 1974 the quarry was bought by West Sussex County Council to secure a cessation of the chalk extraction and to protect the site from unsuitable commercial development. The Southern Industrial History Centre Trust subsequently negotiated a long-term lease with the Council in 1978 and Amberley Museum was formed.
The Museum formally opened on Saturday the 25th of May, 1979, and over the years has developed significantly, taking in a range of new exhibits. The vintage wireless exhibition, Southdown Bus Collection, Print Workshop and narrow-gauge industrial railway were among the first major additions to the Museum, and many have since followed. The SEEBOARD (now EDF ENERGY) electricity hall, Paviors museum of roads & roadmaking and Wheelwrights building represent the major constructions of the 1990's, whilst since the millennium the Museum has seen many developments and additions, including Betchworth Hall, the Connected Earth telecommunications building (founded by BT), Fairmile Cafe, the Railway Preservation & Conservation halls, a Bodger's Camp, a new Tools & Trades History Society hall and the impressive Limeburners Restaurant. Ongoing developments include a fire station modelled on 1930s design and (dependent on funding) the complete restoration and re-interpretation of the De Witt Kilns complex.
