What Is Steyning Museum and What Can You Find on Its Website?

Steyning Museum is a local history museum in Steyning, West Sussex, run by the Steyning Museum Trust. Its website, steyningmuseum.org.uk, is both a visitor guide and a research resource: it covers the museum's exhibits, archives and family history holdings, lists upcoming events, and explains how to join or support the museum. It is aimed at anyone interested in the history of Steyning, Bramber, Upper Beeding, Ashurst, Wiston and Botolphs, from casual visitors to people tracing local ancestors.

What the museum covers

The museum tells the story of its local area from pre-history to the present day. According to the site, it holds both permanent exhibits and temporary displays, so it is worth a look whether you are a first-time or regular visitor. A library and archives are kept for anyone who wants to research something in detail.

The website's navigation reflects this scope:

• Exhibits – current, permanent and previous exhibitions
• Family History and Archives – research material, including local history, oral history and graveyard records
• Education – a section for school or learning use
• Museum Shop – the museum's shop
• Visiting us – practical visitor information
• Membership – newsletter, membership application and subscription details
• What's On – the events calendar

Exhibits and collections

The site highlights a mix of objects and displays, including an illuminated map, a model of an L.B.S.C.R. suburban line train (circa 1900), a stuffed canary, and the skeleton known as "Steyning Man." There is also an "adopt an artefact" scheme for supporting the collection.

A recent exhibition, The River Runs Through, tells the story of the Adur Valley. Temporary exhibitions change, so check the Current Exhibitions page before a visit if a particular display is your reason for going.

One practical feature: you can use your own smartphone to access an audio guide to the museum's history and exhibits, so bringing headphones is worthwhile.

Events listed under What's On

The events page shows a mix of free and paid activities. Examples from the listing include:

Dates and details can change, so confirm on the What's On page before travelling.

News, closures and changes

The site's news section carries short notices that matter to visitors, such as a new exhibition opening, a town mace loaned to Steyning Town Council and displayed above the door into the museum, and unexpected closures. One notice, for example, announced the museum would be closed on two days because of forecast extreme temperatures, with the aim of reopening on the Saturday. Checking the news items before a visit is a sensible habit, especially in extreme weather.

Membership and support

The Membership section includes a newsletter, a membership application and subscription information, and the site uses Stripe for online payments. The site does not publish membership prices in the material available here, so check the membership page for current rates and terms rather than assuming a cost.

Who the site is for

• Visitors wanting opening information, current exhibitions and events
• Family and local historians looking for archives, graveyard records and oral history material
• Schools and learners using the education section
• Supporters interested in membership, the shop or adopting an artefact

If your interest is a specific person, property or event in the area, start with the Family History and Archives sections and then plan a research visit; if you simply want a day out, the Exhibits and What's On pages will tell you what is on and when.