Michelham Priory

Upper Dicker
Hailsham
East Sussex
BN27 3QS
England

Website

www.sussexpast.co.uk

E-mail

adminmich@sussexpast.co.uk

Telephone

01323 844224

Fax

01323 844030

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Michelham Priory viewed from the South Lawn
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Michelham Priory is an historic house, gardens, forge and watermill with 800 years of history and the longest water filled moat in England. The museum explores rural life in Sussex as a Medieval religious house, through the Tudor period and into the 20th Century. Visitors enjoy exploring the tranquil gardens and walking by the moat, and there are hands on activities and a playground for children.
Michelham has ample free parking and a cafe serving hot and cold food and beverages.

Venue Type:

Sacred space, Garden, parklands or rural site, Heritage site, Museum, Historic house or home

 Opening hours

1 March-30 November, 7 days per week 10.30 to 5.00 (or dusk if earlier)

Last admission 45 mins before close

 Admission charges

Adult £7.30
Student £6.30
Senior £6.30
Child £3.90
Disabled/carer £3.90

Group rate available for groups of 15 or more

Discounts

  • English Heritage

Michelham Priory stands in beautiful surroundings on its own moated island and includes the remains of an Augustinian Priory and medieval gatehouse, furnished Tudor rooms, an Elizabethan great barn, a working watermill and forge, Victorian farm and domestic artefacts, reconstructed Iron Age houses, sculpture trail in the gardens (March to November), lovely grounds including herb, kitchen and cloister gardens.

Collection details

Agriculture, Archaeology, Fine Art, Music, Personalities, Religion, Science and Technology, Social History

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
 Paper-based and downloads

Michelham at War

Michelham played an important role during the second World War and was home to evacuees, British and Canadian forces as well as being a working farm complete with land girls. Using archive material and artefacts children investigate life at Michelham for the evacuees. Pupils can arrive in period clothes and bring an authenic packed lunch. They will meet the billeting officer followed by WW2 activities in role such as make do and mend, an Air Raid practice, playing with home made toys and enjoy a sing-song. Interview sessions are also on offer with our volunteers who lived through the war. KS2

How to obtain

For further information please contact Alison Young, the Education Officer on 01323844224 / 07749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are always happy to discuss other ways of using Michelham's many resources.

 Face to face resources

A Wartime Christmas NEW FOR 2007

Similar to the Michelham at War workshop but with a festive theme: wartime decorations, make do and mend, party games, sing-song, period toys and a delicious piece of wartime recipe cake to add to pupil's own lunches. KS2

How to obtain

For further information please contact Alison Young, the Educaiton Officer on 01323844224 / 07749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are always happy to discuss other ways of using Michelhams' many resources.

Chronology, Continuity and Change

A workshop using costume, artefacts and toys to explore 800 years of history. How much has changed and what has stayed the same? We focus on medieval, Tudor, Victorian and World War 2 eras encouraging pupils to explore and speculate whilst consolidating and understanding of chronology. All key stages

How to obtain

For furhter information pleae contact Alison Young, the Education Officer 01323844224 / 07749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk

Houses and Homes

What was life like in the past? Using costume and domestic artefacts children find out who lived and worked here, how people built houses, kept warm, cooked off and entertained themselves. The workshop gives children a real understanding of Michelham's role as a home and workplace and they are encouraged to think about differences between then and now. Max. 35 children. KS1,2

How to obtain

Please contact Alison Young, the Education Officer on 01323844224 / 07749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are always happy to discuss other ways of using Michelham Priory's many resources.

Medieval Realms: Monastic Life

This workshop and tour is designed to encourage students to use the site and artefacts to understand the crucial role the church played in medieval society. Michelham Priory is used as an example of a self sufficient community with its farming, medicinal, religious and social aspects. KS3

How to obtain

For further information please contact Alison Young, the Education Officer on 01323844224 / 0749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are always happy to discuss other ways of using Michelham Priory's many resources.

Michelham and the Dissolution

An exciting drama based workshop exploring comunity life in the Priory, the Tudor court and the events leading up to the Dissolution. We practice various drama techniques before reenacting the story in costume to Tudor music. KS2

How to obtain

For further details please contact Alison Young, the Education Officer on 01323844224 / 07749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are always happy to discuss other ways of using Michelham's many resources.

Tudor Apprentice

We briefly explore the story of Michelham Priory's dissolution and subsequent rebuilding as a Tudor gentleman's residence. Pupils then work as archaeologists examining a range of Tudor artefacts, discussing their uses, making interpretations and presenting them to share with the class. They then lern a skill as a Tudor apprentice such as calligraphy, tile design or pottery. KS2

How to obtain

For further details please contact Alison Young, the Educatio Oficer, on 01323844224 / 07749818720, email priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are always happy to discuss other ways of using Michelham Priory's many resources.

Victorian Rural Life

This workshop has an emphasis on children working as 'time detectives'. Pupils are introduced to eight characters who might have lived at Michelham ranging from the kitchen maid to the owner's son and there is a particular reference to the Victorian period. Pupils use problem solving skills to link artefacts with characters and then we meet the characters in person using simple costume. If the teacher is willing he/she can enact the role of the Victorian teacher. We discuss the lives of children in Victorian times and all the pupils can try out practical activities such as washing, using butter pats, writing and playing with period toys. The emphasis is on investigation and experimentation.

How to obtain

For further information please contact Alison Young, the Education Officer, on 01323844224 / 07749818720, emil priory@sussexpast.co.uk. We are alwasy happy to discuss other ways of using Michelham's many resources.

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