The Gateway Project has been an ambitious project to provide a new entrance, shop, galleries and a waterside café at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton near Chichester.

This 40-acre site, set in a beautiful landscape, has a collection of 50 historic rural buildings which have been rescued from around the country and tell the stories of the people who lived and worked in them over a 950 year period.

As part of the project Seaward Properties was delighted to have the opportunity to support a Building Conservation trainee, Cameron Page.   Cameron worked with the Museum team to repair and conserve the medieval house from Sole Street, Kent which previously served as the indoor seating area for the original café.  He found the experience invaluable in supporting and enhancing his studies at the Building Crafts College, London.

Sole Street has now been reassembled and taken its rightful place as a building exhibit.

The Gateway Project is now complete and was officially opened by star of BBC’s Downton Abbey, Hugh Bonneville, on 18th May.  The new buildings are stunning, the exhibits very well curated and the café building looks out over the newly restored mill pond.

For more details of what is on offer click here.  We would certainly recommend a visit.

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/