Prince Charles visits the Weald and Downland Museum

The Prince of Wales will pay an official visit to the museum, in Singleton on today (Thursday, November 11) to meet staff and then enjoy a tour of the site.

Prince Charles will be met by the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Susan Pyper and the museum’s director Richard Harris.

The programme for the day will include seeing some of the 45 buildings which were dismantled and saved, then re-erected on the site.

The prince will also see the working Tudor kitchen, meet the museum’s gardener, who takes care of the period gardens, see a schools’ apothecary workshop and meet schoolchildren from the area who will be visiting as part of the museum’s schools services programme.

During the second half of the visit the prince will meet representatives of the National Society of Master Thatchers in the museum’s award-winning Gridshell building, which houses the museum’s conservation workshop.

The master thatchers have had a long relationship with the museum and have worked on many of its thatched buildings over the years.

The group will give a series of demonstrations including the use of different materials, hurdle making and coppicing.

Mr Harris said staff and volunteers were looking forward to next week and it would be the icing on the cake for its ruby celebrations.

“We are thrilled his royal highness is visiting us in this special anniversary year.

“I am sure with his interest in not only history and architecture, but the protection of the countryside and its traditions, he will find a great deal to interest him during his time spent with us.”

This year the museum has put on a special series of events to mark its important anniversary.