‘Food and Folk Festival’ is what we spotted on a small A3 signpost along the road and that lead us to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester.
The open air museum has a about 50 buildings from a period over 600 years. which are scattered over an area of 40 acre meadows and woodland. The buildings are connected with well maintained walkways.
All buildings were ‘rescued’, dismantled and rebuilt on the museum site where they are now open to visitors. Many buildings show traditional furniture and tools from the era that they were built in. In some of the old buildings volunteers showed how traditional crafter worked, how a fire was lit in the olden days and a lot more.
During the Food and Folk Festival many craft and food stalls were on site and Tudor and Medieval story tellers, musicians and dance groups. This festival lasted only two days but the museum has many more activities planned throughout the year. Although the Food and Folk Festival was the trigger to visit Weald and Downland for us, I think it is well worth a visit without and special event.
