Terms & Conditions:  *Excludes bank holidays.  Subject to availability.  Can not be exchanged for any other items, and no cash alternative.  Not to be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer.  Not valid for group bookings.  Voucher must be used on the day of issue.  Sussex Archaeological Society witholds the right to remove this offer at any time.

See here for details: Senior Summer Special

The hands-on activities within the gatehouse illustrate various aspects of medieval life, helping to tell the story of the Priory which was built in 1229 and remained as a religious house until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.

This latest contribution to the museum is part of an on-going process of improvements to the Priory, and was developed jointly with the East Sussex Archaeology and
Museums Partnership and with funding from the Friends of Michelham Priory and
support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The gallery was opened by Richard Akhurst, Chairman of the Trustees of the Sussex Archaeological Society, and Tom Cunliffe, Chairman of the Friends of Michelham Priory.

The public will be able to see the gallery for the first time this week at the Ancient Crafts Festival, being held on the 5^th and 6^th of May.  “This new gallery will be a great addition to our Ancient Crafts Festival and to the museum as a whole, giving visitors the opportunity to get hands-on while learning about some of the techniques and skills used in building and crafts from medieval times.  The fact this it is housed within a building dating from the period and all the furniture has been made using medieval processes, just adds to the authenticity and helps to tell the story of Michelham Priory.” Jo Grocott, Marketing Officer

The official unveiling took place on an unseasonably chilly afternoon on  Tuesday 26 March. Friends of the Palace, Trustees of Sussex Archaeological Society and representatives from Waitrose were invited to attend and the CEO of the Sussex Archaeological Society said a few words before cutting the ribbon to declare the refurbished museum display open.

Head of Learning, Katrina Burton, “We are particularly grateful to the Friends and to Waitrose for giving us the opportunity to make so much more of the Garden Museum.  The garden at Fishbourne is thought to be the first garden in Britain – so it’s fantastic that we are able to tell that story in an interesting way that will be enjoyed by all our visitors”

The Archaeology of the South Downs National Park is a walk back in time.  This introduction to the accessible monuments and artefacts in the South Downs National Park has around 100 fine colour illustrations. It memorably highlights places where people have lived, hunted, farmed and occasionally met in large numbers within the area of the Park.

This, the first book in the South Downs Series, has been assisted by the South Downs National Park Authority.  The author, John Manley, formerly Chief Executive of Sussex Archaeological Society, writes with an expert’s knowledge for the general public.

The book is £8.99 from shops at Sussex Past properties (details of opening hours available by clicking on the Properties link above) or from selected bookshops within the area of the National Park.

You may also order over the phone (01273 486260) or by post – send your contact details (name, address, daytime telephone number and email, plus Sussex Archaeological Society membership number if applicable) & payment of £8.99 plus £1.60 p&p per book to:
Marketing, Sussex Archaeological Society, Bull House, 92 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XH.

Cheques should be made payable to Sussex Past.

If you prefer to enclose your card details, we need:
Name on card, card number, start date, expiry date, security code and issue number if one is shown.

All enquiries to adminlewes@sussexpast.co.uk

It seems like the Summer has finally arrived, and with it the wildlife at Michelham Priory has blossomed.  This week a family of hedgehogs has been coming and going in the kitchen garden, with this small baby taking an afternoon nap in the sunshine!  He was soon rescued by the gardener who carefully put him back in a more shady spot near his siblings!

We also recently had a Dragonfly survey conducted by John Luck, author of ‘Dragonflies of Sussex’ who was on the look out for the rare Scarce Chaser and Brilliant Emerald which had been spotted locally.  Alas, he didn’t find any at Michelham on this occasion, but did find ten different species including the Small Red-eyed Damselfly, a fairly recent resident in the UK.  It may be viewed from the main footbridge over the moat.

The sun has also bought the visitors out from under their umbrellas, and we had glorious weather for our archaeology day on 25 July.  The children really enjoyed getting hands-on with digging, metal detecting and finds processing and it was a fantasic turn out for our first event of the summer holidays.  The next one is our Teddy Bears’ picnic on 15th August, so do please bring your children and teddy bears and see what wildlife you can spot!

Society member, November 2012

There are 3 age categories: 7 and under; 8 to 13; 14 and above

Maximum 900 words – less is fine!  Closing date for entries 1st October 2012.

Please email your story to priory@sussexpast.co.uk or send to ‘Story-writing competition’ at the address below.  Good luck!

Full terms and conditions at: www.sussexpast.co.uk/termsandconditions

Michelham Priory, Upper Dicker, East Sussex, BN27 3QS

Here is a sample story:

Midsummer Night’s Dream

 © Helen Winters

‘I’ve never seen any ghosts here,’ the middle-aged woman said to 18-year-old Rose, looking up from her book and smiling, in response to Rose’s question. Rose didn’t believe this, but she preferred sitting next to a comforting human being in a tiny kitchen, rather than walking up and then down those really scary stairs by herself. Which she would have to do if she wanted to get to the changing room, put on her own clothes, eat her sausage rolls and meet her parents in the car park.

Rose was a young drama student. Michelham was an old ruined priory with a Tudor house attached. Rose was here with several dozen other students putting on a Shakespeare evening as part of their course. This involved dressing up in weird outfits and proclaiming from stairs, pulpits, gardens, barns, halls and balconies, to doting parents. As the darkness drew in, the tea lights in their waxed bags dotting the great lawns bloomed like luminous flowers. It was all very beautiful. And scary, now that the event had finished and Rose couldn’t find anyone else in the priory except this woman. They must all be outside. She knew one thing – she did not want to go up those stairs by herself again. Where it turned at the first floor…when she had gone up there to the changing room, she had been aware of something brushing its fingers over her face.

‘Do you work here?’ she asked the woman, politely, not really interested in the reply.

‘I suppose I do. I usually sit in the house when it’s open to the public although a lot of them just look straight through me. I’m here tonight to keep an eye on things, make sure you young people are safe. I thought your show was very good. My name’s Helena, by the way.’

‘Thanks.’ Rose was starving. Where was everybody else? The woman was plump and pleasant-faced, with hair that didn’t quite suit her, Rose decided. Even for someone middle-aged. What must it be like to be that old? She must be at least 45. With a strange crick in her neck so her head was permanently at a very slight angle.

‘Do you want me to come upstairs with you?’Helena asked, as if she could read Rose’s mind.

‘Oh. Thanks very much.’

So they walked up the creaking steps together,Helena in her fleece and skirt and sensible shoes and Rose in a rather fetching green and blue queen-of-the fairies outfit – she had been playing Titania in her last scene.

‘Doesn’t this place scare you?’ Rose asked as they reached the first landing.

‘No. I’m used to it.’Helena smiled. ‘Although these stairs can be a bit treacherous.’

Rose could smell the damp stone and the old carpeting. Horrible. She looked down the stairwell into the hall, stippled in shadow and faint light.

‘This place must be haunted, though. It’s, like, ancient.’

‘Well, even if it was, I wouldn’t tell you. I don’t want to frighten you.’

‘Now you are frightening me. You’re not telling me stuff.’

They reached the changing room.

‘Are your parents here tonight?’ Helena asked, as Rose got her stuff together.

‘Yeah. They’re waiting for me in the car park.’

‘Then you’d better hurry. I want to get home too. May I have a sausage roll?’

‘Sure. Help yourself.’

They went down the stairs again. As they reached the first landing, Rose tripped. But Helena, who was in front of her, whipped round and caught her just in time, steadying her.

‘Are you OK?’

‘I…I think so. It was as if somebody pushed me.’

‘You’re imagining things. Anyway – I saved you!’ Helena smiled.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be fine now,’ Rose gabbled on, desperately wanting to find her parents.

As she ran towards the car park, she suddenly realised she hadn’t thanked Helena for saving her from a broken neck, so she reluctantly turned back. When she got to the stairs she avoided looking up at the place where she had fallen. She turned left towards the kitchen. But there was no door. She must have gone the wrong way. But how could she have done?

‘Can I help?’

She wheeled round, frightened and confused. A cheerful-looking man stood there, armed with a box of spanners and a large key ring.

‘Are you lost?’ he asked. ‘I’m the Operations Manager.’

‘No. Yes. I’m looking for a small kitchen. I was sitting in there with a nice woman – I think she’s a house guide – I wanted to thank her for – something – she came upstairs with me and stopped me having a bad fall – we were sitting in the kitchen…’ she tailed off, feeling stupid.

‘There’s no kitchen here.’ The man frowned. ‘There was one once. But that was years ago. The door was blocked up on this wall. You get to it round the other side – it’s a staff cloakroom now. And there aren’t any house guides on duty tonight.’ He looked at Rose strangely.

‘But she told me she sits in the house. Her name’s Helena…’

The man opened and closed his mouth like a panic-stricken fish.

‘She can’t be. She lived here years ago when the priory was a private house. Nobody knows how it happened; but she was found at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck. She probably fell. Or someone pushed her…’

Catering Manager James Cocklin, previously of Ridgeway’s in Eastbourne, has re-vamped the cafe menu with a focus on high quality local produce.  “Our milk and ice cream comes from Downsview Farm near Uckfield, the bread from Albion House bakery in Cross-in-Hand, Quiches and Scones from Chef’s Pantry in East Hoathly and the pies and cakes from other local producers.  It is so important at a heritage site like ours to maintain the traditional values of sourcing food, and the feedback so far is that the quality is outstanding.”

As the menu progresses, James is expecting to increase the number of suppliers to include local juice, beer and meat producers.  “It’s really good to be working with a local business and supporting each other.  We’re really looking forward to working together in the future” said Sarah Farnes of Downsview Farm.

All the suppliers of the cafe have been invited to attend the upcoming Food & Garden Fair, to be held on the 19^th and 20^th May at Michelham Priory where visitors will be able to sample and buy produce from businesses throughout the region.  There will also be garden stalls, demonstrations and activities in the house for children.