How to Support Steyning Museum Through Membership or Its Shop

Updated

You can support Steyning Museum in two main ways shown on its website: by joining as a member (the site has a membership section with a newsletter, membership application and subscription information) and by buying from the museum shop. The site also mentions an "adopt an artefact" option listed among the exhibits. The website does not publish membership prices, subscription rates or shop prices, so check the membership application and shop pages directly before deciding.

Membership: what the site shows

The Steyning Museum Trust website includes a Membership area with three linked items:

  • Newsletter – the Trust's newsletter for members and supporters.
  • Membership Application – the form or page you use to apply to join.
  • Subscription – information about the subscription that membership involves.

The site's pricing signals also reference a subscription and list Stripe as a payment platform, which suggests online payment may be part of the joining process. The exact subscription amount, what it covers, and whether payment is online or by another method are not stated in the available page content, so confirm these on the Membership Application and Subscription pages before you commit.

Practical step: open the Membership section, read the Subscription page first to see the cost and terms, then complete the Membership Application. If the application page does not state how payment is taken, look for a payment link or contact details on the same page.

The museum shop

The site features a Museum Shop in its main navigation alongside Visiting Us, Exhibits and Archives. The shop is presented as part of a visit rather than as a separate online store in the content available, and no product list or prices are given.

What to check before buying: whether the shop sells online or only in person, what it stocks, and postage or collection arrangements. These details are not in the page evidence, so use the shop page or ask at the museum.

Adopting an artefact

"Adopt an artefact" appears among the exhibit items on the site, next to objects such as the illuminated map, the model of the L.B.S.C.R Suburban Line train (circa 1900), the stuffed canary and the skeleton known as "Steyning Man". This is listed as an option connected to the collection, but the page content does not explain the cost, duration or benefits of adoption. Treat it as a possible way to support specific objects and confirm the terms on the relevant page or with museum staff.

Choosing between the options

Way to support What the site confirms What you still need to check
Membership Newsletter, application and subscription pages exist; subscription referenced Cost, what membership includes, payment method
Shop purchase A museum shop is part of the site Online vs in-person sales, products, prices, delivery
Adopt an artefact Listed among exhibits Cost, terms, which objects can be adopted

If your main aim is ongoing involvement and news, membership is the route the site is set up for. If you want something tangible or a gift, start with the shop. If you want to support a particular object, ask about the adopt-an-artefact scheme.

Free and low-cost ways to get involved

Support does not have to cost much. The site lists events with modest or no entry charges:

  • Coffee Morning in the Penfold Hall – entrance £2.00, with fresh coffee and biscuits.
  • Conducted Tour of the Commonwealth War Graves in Steyning Churchyard – a free event, no booking required, meeting inside the museum.
  • Quiz organised by Steyning Museum – £5.00.

These are dated events (the listings shown fall in November 2026), so check the What's On page for current dates before planning. Attending, bringing friends and using the audio guide on your own smartphone are simple ways to back the museum alongside membership or shop purchases.