In 2019, thanks to a friendly tip off to the Chair of the Friends of Henfield Museum, we were donated a Victorian former Brighton Museum display case. The case takes roving exhibitions to the community - thus far, the Henfield Haven, Henfield Library, St. Peter's Church, the Henfield Hall, Red Oaks care home and the Evangelical Free Church have all hosted displays, with the inaugural display being on local botanist William Borrer.
October 2024 - 2025
A Snapshot of Henfield During WW2
Launched to coincide with the Henfield Theatre Company's production of 'Goodnight Mr. Tom', this striking display includes a variety of military and civilian wartime objects, photographs, documents and posters. We also include some memorable reflections on local wartime activities, hostilities and evacuees from the diary of the village's vicar from 1940-49, the Revd Henry de Candole.
December 2023 - October 2024
The Devil's Dyke Fairground
The story of a diabolic playground of the Victorian and Edwardian Ages, from its humble beginnings in the 1820s through to the quieter site today, the devil long having been at rest.
Devil's Dyke Aerial Cableway. Colourised 2020
December 2022 - November 2023
"Henfield's Nonconformists" - a Tale of Religious Freedom
Discover the tale of the contentious issue of freedom of worship in the village via Henfield's Free Church.
From its 1830s foundations at the nadir of the local Anglican church and thanks to the efforts of the Rev. Goulty of Brighton, a fiery preacher who campaigned on causes such as slavery (and was cousin to Lord Nelson), via the first long-serving Pastor George Hall and up to the present day. Today one of the most prominent features in the High Street, the Evangelical Free Church was formerly generally known as Congregational.
From its 1830s foundations at the nadir of the local Anglican church and thanks to the efforts of the Rev. Goulty of Brighton, a fiery preacher who campaigned on causes such as slavery (and was cousin to Lord Nelson), via the first long-serving Pastor George Hall and up to the present day. Today one of the most prominent features in the High Street, the Evangelical Free Church was formerly generally known as Congregational.
Henfield's Nonconformists - a Tale of Religious Freedom
November 2021 - December 2022
"What's in the Kitchen?" - an assortment of kitchen curiosities
Enter the world of the Victorian and early 20th century kitchen. From simple time savers to arcane creations of the inventive minds of the age. If you like a challenge, try to guess the function of some of the assortment before you read the labels...
What's in the Kitchen?
February 2020 - November 2021
"Flying Machines" - Henfield and the Age of the Stagecoach
|
An image conjured of the black of the night, 'when their approach was announced by the bugle, and they were lighted up by a number of lamps, and seeming to bear down upon you like a big ball of fire...'
Discover the world of highwaymen, rivalry and accidents, the aggravation of turnpike gates, the sport of coaching and Henfield's role as a coaching stop in the golden age and romantic coaching revival of Jem Selby and Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt... First at the Henfield Haven from February 2020, the case was then displayed in the museum during the Covid-19 pandemic. The article series accompanying the display will be posted to the Articles section of this site in the future and was posted to the museum Facebook page during 2020-21. |
Rival Coaches 1834, by Albert Ludovici Jr. From a series of puzzles based upon Dickens' Tale of Two Cities
|
2019
"Mr. Borrer's Garden"
|
The roving case's inaugural exhibition, the majestic trees and plants of Mr. Borrer's Garden were remembered with photos and a detailed 1830s description of the garden from The Gardener's Magazine., as well as information on Borrer's upbringing, expertise, inspiration and house at Barrow Hill.
Included was a recently located photograph of Borrer from an 1855 series on 'Eminent Lives', recently digitised by the National Portrait Gallery - this being the only known photo of him. In addition, with information on his renowned Head Gardener Charles Green having also recently come to light, the only known photograph of Charles (held at the Surrey Archives) was displayed. |
|