Sunday 20th May
Sunday 3rd June
Wednesday 6th June
Victorian Day and Fairground at Night a huge, historical success!
On Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August, Amberley Museum held its very first Victorian Weekend, which included a working fairground that stayed open until 9.30pm on Saturday evening for local residents and visitors to enjoy.
With visitor numbers exceeding anticipations, the event beautifully showcased the Victorian era through demonstrating how its machinery, vehicles and entertainment have both influenced and enhanced our modern and modest lifestyles today.
Visitors had the chance to participate in traditional trades and crafts over the weekend, such as Victorian engraving, brass rubbing and take rides upon the steam engines, vintage buses and horse and carriage that regularly toured the site. Delicious and traditional Mrs Beeton inspired dishes were available at the Limeburners Restaurant and offered tasty treats to suit all appetites.
Visitors were in for a real treat on Saturday, when Her Majesty Queen Victoria arrived by horse and carriage, delighting audiences with her historical accounts of both royal and Victorian life. Contrary to popular myth, the Queen was very much amused by the children, many of whom had attended in Victorian costume and who were thrilled with the opportunity for hands-on history sessions using Victorian memorabilia and role-play.
Over the course of the weekend, delightful music from the Victorian era filled the Museum, which many visitors stopped to enjoy. Colin Arenstein, West Sussex County Council’s Music Area Manager was thrilled to be involved with the event: “We were really delighted to be asked to provide musicians for the Victorian event held at Amberley. Not only was it an opportunity for collaboration with a community partner but a great chance for us to showcase the musical talents that we have here in the County”. The Museum’s Marketing Manager Kate Russell say’s: ‘We are really pleased to be able to offer the Victorian event as another opportunity to highlight the wonderful exhibits, activities and transport that we have at the Museum. The addition of performances, wonderful Victorian fairground rides and traditional costumes helped to create a must see fun and educational event that we are really looking forward to repeating next year!”
Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre is situated in the heart of the South Downs National Park and hosts over 30 special events each year. Visitors have the chance to see the wonderful exhibits on site, which include a historic bus service, potter, stained glass maker, print workshop, ‘Connected Earth’ telecommunications exhibition and much, much more!
Further details can be found on the Museum’s website www.amberleymuseum.co.uk or by telephoning the Museum directly on (01798) 831370.
