Hailsham Heritage Centre & Museum to Reopen for 2026 Season

Town councillors are preparing to visit the Hailsham Heritage Centre & Museum ahead of its reopening for the 2026 season on Friday 1 May.

Situated in Blackman’s Yard, just behind the Town Council offices in Market Street, the museum operates between May and October. It welcomes visitors on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 12.30pm. Managed by dedicated volunteers from the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society, the attraction offers free entry to all.

Despite its modest size, the museum features a diverse range of exhibits. Visitors can explore a recreated period kitchen, displays on farming and agriculture, collections of local artefacts, photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries and a variety of wartime memorabilia.

Richard Goldsmith, Chair of the Hailsham Historical & Natural History Society, commented: “We have been busy over our winter closed period making changes and improvements to some of our displays and bringing some items out of storage. We continue to have artefacts donated to the museum, but we are having to only accept those that relate to the local area of Hailsham, Hellingly and the surrounding villages, due to limited space.”

“Copies of photographs and documents are always gratefully received, and our programme of indexing is now also under way which will eventually make it easier for visitors and Society members to carry out research and to find information about the town and the locality.”

Corporate Services Manager, Karen Giddings said that places like the Heritage Centre play a vital role in preserving community identity. She said: “While history is often overlooked in everyday life, it continues to fascinate people when rediscovered. The museum provides a valuable window into Hailsham’s past, charting its development over time through engaging displays and resources that are particularly useful for those researching local or family history.”

“I encourage residents and visitors alike to take advantage of the museum’s reopening. They will receive a warm welcome from the knowledgeable volunteer team, who are eager to share insights into the town’s rich and varied past.”

For more information on the Hailsham Heritage Centre & Museum, please contact Richard Goldsmith (Hailsham Historical Society) on 01323 843102 or visit hailshamhistoricalsociety.co.uk.