Step back to 1851 with The Ragged Victorians at the Weald & Downland Living Museum

The Weald & Downland Living Museum in Chichester invites visitors to step back into the Victorian era with a series of hands-on family activities and a special weekend of living history.

 Part of a six-week celebration exploring how toys and games have evolved from the Medieval era to the Victorian times, families can now discover the charm of the Victorian toy box.

 Running from 18 August 2 September, activities for children (and grown-ups) include:  

·       Play traditional favourites such as cup and ball and optical illusion games

·       Dress up in Victorian costumes

·       Try table-top jousting and explore an Elizabethan Dolls House display

·       Join craft sessions to make thaumatropes, peg dolls, and cup and ball toys 

·       Take part in hands-on activities like butter patting, sawing, bridge building and more 

·       Listen to Victorian tales from the storyteller 

·       Go on an interactive trail, finding clues, solving puzzles, and learning how playtime has changed through the ages

 

The fun continues into the final August weekend with the arrival of the award-winning living history group The Ragged Victorians, on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August.

 Visitors will be transported back to 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition in London, when Britain proudly displayed its achievements under Queen Victorias reign. While the Exhibition dazzled the world with innovations and grandeur, life for the working poor was often a stark contrast.

 The Ragged Victorians will bring this hidden history vividly to life, recreating the sights, sounds, and characters of a bustling 19th-century marketplace. Through immersive storytelling, authentic costume, and interactive displays, visitors will discover what life was truly like for those living on the margins of Victorian society.

 Hillary Cunningham, Learning and Programmes Manager at the Weald & Downland Living Museum, said: We are thrilled to be welcoming The Ragged Victorians to the Museum. Their award-winning performances bring history vividly to life, helping visitors understand what daily life was like for the working poor in contrast to the grandeur of the Great Exhibition. Combined with our Victorian Toys summer holiday theme, its a wonderful opportunity for families to learn, play and experience the past together.

 This family-friendly event offers a unique chance to explore the struggles, resilience, and spirit of the Victorian working classes, complementing the Museums mission to share stories of everyday life from across the centuries.

 For tickets and more information, visit: www.wealddown.co.uk. 

 Activities vary daily so please check the Museum's website before booking.