Clay Open day
2025-06-15 | The Brickworks, Swanwick Lane, Lower Swanwick, SO31 7HB, United Kingdom
We are delighted to welcome the Southern Ceramics group to the Museum for their 50th Anniversary celebration event on Sunday 15th June
It’s going to be a fabulous day of talks and demonstrations, including an installation at the museum too ‘Suspended in Time’ with enthusiasm and courage, it is shaping up to be a thought-provoking and visually stunning exhibition.
Entry to the event is FREE with you standard museum entry.
Guest speakers include:
Talk 1: Sounding Line by Mella Shaw (talking about her work and the role of ceramic art
in contemporary activism)
Talk 2: Materials Matter by Cadi F (talking about her journey from copper creations to
ceramics)
Hands on Clay
Guided by two of our long serving members, everybody aged 0 to 100+ years can work
together in an interactive activity using the human hands to shape a collaborative
artwork.
Demonstrations
Some of our members have volunteered to demonstrate their techniques. These include
making medieval encaustic tiles (as in Winchester Cathedral), creating lichens in clay, firing
low temp glazes with a hair dryer in 30 minutes, hand building and coiling pots, wheel
throwing and slip decorations on plates.
Agenda for the day

10.00 – Arrive and look around the Museum
11.00 – Welcome by Chair of the SCG
11.15 – ‘Sounding Line’: Talk by Mella Shaw (https://www.mellashaw.co.uk)
12.30 – * Members’ Demonstrations
* ‘Hands on Clay’ public getting involved with clay in * Meeting potters
* Lunch (Brickyard café open with great food)
2.30 – ‘Materials Matter’: Talk by Cadi F (https://cadifroehlich.com)
4.00 – Celebration and announcing installation winner

Stained glass garden panel workshop
2025-06-22 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-08-17 10:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-19 10:00 - 14:00 (Europe/London)
Stained glass garden panel workshop – 10am start.

Make yourself a unique & fabulous garden panel using strips of coloured glass.
On the day you shall be shown the basics on how to cut glass accurately into strips, setting these colourful strips into lead, to make yourself a unique & colourful glassy panel.
There’s always plenty of glass colours & textures to choose from to fit any colour schemes.
Small classes ensures lots of help is at hand.
Refreshments included from the Brickyard cafe.
Classes start at 10am & finish by 2pm

All workshops run by Rachel from the Swanwick Studio and will be hosted in our Education room

There is free parking on site

More details and booking »

Potted arrangement floral workshop
2025-08-02 10:30 - 13:30
Join us on Saturday 2nd August for our potted table centre workshop, Hosted in the Brickyard cafe
All materials and refreshments will be provided, you also get to pick a pot to keep to house your arrangement.
If you would to finish the afternoon with an afternoon tea the total cost is £60
Potted floral workshop only cost is £45
All materials and refreshments will be provided to make an all round potted arrangement
Time:10.30pm
More details and booking »

Harvest Festival
2025-09-21 11:00 - 16:00
Join us as for a great family day out, you can even bring the dog! This month’s Museum-in-Steam event is all about Harvest and the changing of the seasons. As usual we will have the miniature train running and tractor & trailer rides, the popular arcade machines and the cafe ready with light refreshments.
Included in your entrance fee will also be the following:
Live music provided by the Melody Makers Choir;
Demonstrations by Hampshire Woodturners, Hedge End Lacemakers and Southampton beekeepers;
Displays of corn dollies and our local history society’s work researching local churches. We also have information relating to local war memorials.
Finally, there will be activities for children with a Harvest feel.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership, Blue Peter Badge holders, those who are registered carers and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free. All other offers and passes do not apply at this event. ​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Spirit Holistic and Wellbeing Fayre
2025-10-12 11:00 - 16:00
Holistic, Spiritual and Wellbeing Fayre
Hosted by Nisha Balance Therapies
You’re Invited to a Magical Day of Wellbeing & Spiritual Connection!

We’re thrilled to welcome you to what promises to be a truly fantastic day out! Join a vibrant community of spiritual and holistic stallholders from across Hampshire as they come together for an uplifting, inspiring, and magical event.
Discover a wide range of unique wellbeing approaches, engaging talks, and beautiful products — all designed to nourish the mind, body, and soul.
What you can look forward to:

Holistic Therapies (Reiki, Reflexology, Massage)
Psychic & Tarot Readings
Crystals, Gemstones & Spiritual Products
Life Coaching, Music therapy & Energy Healing
Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness
Natural Skincare & Herbal Remedies
Inspiring Talks Throughout the Day
And much more…

Whether you’re exploring your spiritual journey, seeking relaxation, or simply curious, you’ll find likeminded souls and an amazing atmosphere waiting for you.
Entry: £3 per person
Children under 5: Free
Time:
11:00 am – 4:00 pm,
Last admittance to the public 3.30 pm

Halloween and Autumn Steam Up
2025-10-26 11:00 - 16:00
Our Autumn steam up welcomes the Traction engines back from their summer show season to join us in one last celebration of brickmaking before the Museum closes for our winter months. As the nights darken and the season draws in, don’t miss the chance to explore our genuinely haunted museum at Halloween.
Featuring: Traction Engines, Train Rides (small extra charge), Halloween Decorations, Miniature Railway Layouts, Craft & Gift Stalls and much more to be announced at a later date.
Parking: We have parking on site but our steam events can be very busy. For the Halloween Steam Up our resident bus group are going to be running a bus service from the museum to Swanwick Railway Station and back to the museum via Sarisbury Green. You can ride for free!

Our dog and child friendly museum also features two children’s’ play areas, on-site café and a working vintage arcade.
You will also get 125 years of brick history, and the chance to wander around our museum and this is ALL included in your Event admission fee.

Ticket Type

Cost with Gift Aid
(Cost without Gift Aid)

Adult
£10.50 (£9.50)

Child
£7.50 (£6.50)

Concession*
£9.50 (£8.50)

Family (2 Adults & up to 3 Children)
£32.00 (£29.00)

*Students and adults over 65, students must have a valid ID Card
Those with annual membership, Blue Peter Badge holders, those who are registered carers and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free. All other offers and passes do not apply at this event.
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Children's Christmas Special
2025-11-30
Our smallest but sweetest event of the year is dedicated to everyone who truly believes in magic.
Father Christmas will be at the Brickworks on Sunday 30th November and Sunday 7th December, along with our decorated museum. Book your spot to meet Santa in his grotto, guided by his very excited elves and receive your special Christmas gift to tell him what you’d like under your tree this year. Make sure to leave plenty of time to visit the elves’ packing room and see where they wrap up gifts of all shapes and sizes. On the day you can join in with a range of Christmas crafts available such as decorations, Christmas origami and hanging your wishes big and small on our magical wishing tree.
The trains will be running at an additional charge and depending on the weather.
BOOK TICKETS NOW by clicking here!

Ticket Type

Cost without Gift Aid
(Cost with Gift Aid)

Adult
£5.00 (£5.50)

Child
Free for this event

Concession**
£5.00 (£5.50)

Present from Father Christmas*
£6.00 per child (limited spaces) separate booking required

Children's Christmas Special
2025-12-07
Our smallest but sweetest event of the year is dedicated to everyone who truly believes in magic.
Father Christmas will be at the Brickworks on Sunday 30th November and Sunday 7th December, along with our decorated museum. Book your spot to meet Santa in his grotto, guided by his very excited elves and receive your special Christmas gift to tell him what you’d like under your tree this year. Make sure to leave plenty of time to visit the elves’ packing room and see where they wrap up gifts of all shapes and sizes. On the day you can join in with a range of Christmas crafts available such as decorations, Christmas origami and hanging your wishes big and small on our magical wishing tree.
The trains will be running at an additional charge and depending on the weather.
BOOK TICKETS NOW by clicking here!

Ticket Type

Cost without Gift Aid
(Cost with Gift Aid)

Adult
£5.00 (£5.50)

Child
Free for this event (without visiting Father Christmas)

Concession**
£5.00 (£5.50)

Present from Father Christmas*
£6.00 per child (limited spaces) separate booking required
