Cuckfield Museum
Volunteer-run museum on the first floor of Queen’s Hall in Cuckfield, known for its Iguanodon and local history displays.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Cuckfield Museum opened in 1981 as an independent museum about the community, culture and past of Cuckfield. It is run entirely by volunteers and is a registered charity. The museum is on the first floor of Queen’s Hall, a Grade II listed building on the High Street.
The village is linked to the early study of dinosaurs. In the 1820s Gideon Mantell identified the Iguanodon, the first dinosaur known to science, from fossilised teeth found in the stone quarries at Whitemans Green on the northern edge of the village. The permanent displays include fossils and a diorama of Cuckfield in the Cretaceous period, with a children’s quiz and a table where fossils can be handled.
Other permanent displays cover clockmaking, coaching on the London to Brighton road, the local ironworks, the Cuckfield Union Workhouse, farming in Sussex, the First World War, toys and games, and domestic bygones. Particular objects include the Cuckfield Cache, a group of late 19th-century items hidden under the floorboards of a house in Church Street, and a wooden frieze showing the history of the motor car. Some displays on local trades change through the year. A small research room with a computer holds documents and books for local and family history, and the museum gives talks and takes part in school and community visits.
Highlights
- Fossils and diorama linked to the Iguanodon discovery
- The Cuckfield Cache of hidden late 19th-century objects
- Long case clocks from Cuckfield makers
- Caffyns frieze showing the evolution of the motor car
- Research room for local and family history
Permanent exhibitions
- Dinosaurs and Fossils – Fossils and a diorama of Cuckfield in the Cretaceous period, with a children’s quiz and a fossil-handling table.
- The Cuckfield Cache – Late 19th-century objects, including a child’s clothing, found hidden under the floorboards of a house in Church Street.
- Clockmaking and Coaching – Long case clocks from local makers and material on coaching along the London to Brighton route.
- Founded
- 1981
- Operated by
- Cuckfield Museum (independent charity)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free. The museum is an independent charity run by volunteers, and donations are welcome. Curators can research family history for a fee of £25 paid in advance.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is on the first floor of a Grade II listed building, and it cannot currently welcome visitors who cannot manage stairs because of fire safety rules. Visitors with a visual impairment are accommodated: with notice, curators can take objects out of cases and storage for handling.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
The fossils display has a children’s quiz and a table where fossils can be handled. School groups are welcome.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Free parking behind Queen’s Hall. A pay car park (£1 disc) is on Broad Street.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
A small shop sells books and souvenirs. The only toilets mentioned are in the pay car park on Broad Street.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Group visits can be arranged. Schools pay £1 per child and accompanying adults are free; contact the museum in advance. The museum also lends loan boxes to schools and visits schools to talk about local history. A research room with computer access is available. |
