The Brickworks Museum

Steampunk and Victoriana
2023-07-16 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | The Brickworks, Swanwick Lane, Lower Swanwick, SO31 7HB, United Kingdom
Steampunk at the Steam Museum – feast your eyes on the wonderful world of steampunk, a hybrid of Victorian industry and steam-powered fantasy with cogs and corsets vying for attention against goggles, hats and lace.
Come and see fantastic Steampunk outfits and take part in Gosport Steampunk Society’s inventive games (anyone for tea duelling?). Shop at our craft market with steampunk themed stalls and visit the flea circus. Enjoy a unique local history display of mansions & large old houses in the area. On display will be a large 16mm steam railway layout and the Riverside Concert Band who will be playing Sunday at 1 o’clock until 1.45 then 2.15 until 3. You can also enjoy traction engines; try your hand at the coconut shy; see inside a traditional living wagon; take a ride on the Museum’s miniature railway and if that wasn’t enough, the Brickworks Museum’s engines will be in steam powering our Victorian brick factory.
Dress up and have your photos taken in Britain’s only surviving steam-powered brick mill.

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 and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Wednesday Local Market
2023-07-19 10:30 - 14:30
A fresh new local market comes to The Brickworks Museum this summer. Every Wednesday during school term-time join us for locally sourced and made crafts, flowers, food and more.
Entrance into the market (which is held in the Museum grounds) is free; market visitors benefit from discounted entry into the Museum whilst the market is open (during school term-time only); café and toilets available; free parking on site; the last market this year will be held on October 25th.

Ticket Type

Adult
£5

Child
£4

Concession*
£4

4 years old and under
FREE

*Over 65 and students with valid ID
For all information including stall bookings, email volunteers@thebrickworksmuseum.org

Wednesday Local Market
2023-07-26 10:30 - 13:30, 2023-08-02 10:30 - 13:30
Our local market at The Brickworks Museum continues this summer. Every Wednesday join us for locally sourced and made crafts, flowers, food and more. Our sellers change each week and may change at short notice.
Throughout the Summer Holidays we also have our exciting Prehistoric Adventure children’s trail in the Museum. This is included in your entrance fee.
Entrance into the market (which is held in the Museum grounds) is free; café and toilets available; free parking on site; the last market this year will be held on October 25th.
For all information including stall bookings email volunteers@thebrickworksmuseum.org

The Brickworks Museum and the Prehistoric Adventure
2023-07-26 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-07-27 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-07-30 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-02 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-03 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-06 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-09 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-10 11:00 - 16:00 and 6 more dates
This school summer holiday a meteorically good trail lands at The Brickworks Museum. Join us to find out all about the fossils in our brick clay and follow the clues to explore the Earth’s prehistoric past. With interactive activities and hands-on stations throughout the Museum, you can get up close and personal with prehistory.

Design a dinosaur, touch a real fossilised poo (yes really), dress up as a palaeontologist and find the fossils in our sand pit. The Museum also has two play areas, a wildlife garden, excellent café, a working vintage arcade and 125 years of brickmaking history.
We know times are hard for everyone so there is no additional cost to take part in the trail – it is included in the Museum entrance fee. You can also download a FREE child’s ticket from Hampshire’s Top Attractions to access a really good value, all weather day out (T&Cs apply).
The small print – The trail will be open every day that the Museum is open from July 23rd until August 31st. Admission fees apply. There is no additional fee to take part in the trail. If using a HTA child goes free voucher the voucher must be shown at reception and the child must be accompanied by a paying adult or concession. The voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, or family discount ticket. The vintage arcade takes old pennies which can be bought from the Museum – 6 for £1, 13 for £2. Additional craft activities to complement the trail will be advertised separately and may carry a small extra charge – follow our social media for updates.

Meet the Women of the 'Works
2023-08-02 11:30 - 13:00
Step back in time this August and meet some of the historical figures who played a role in factory life at the Brickworks.
Meet an 19th century woman making bricks by hand; a Victorian housewife frustrated by her pink bedsheets; the Edwardian secretary to Mr Ashby and a First World War Munitions Worker.
Walk around the ‘works and hear first-hand what life was like for each of these women.

Our costumed interpreters will be on hand from 11.30 until 1pm to answer all of your questions about life in the Brickworks.

Our Prehistoric Adventure will also be available AND our local market will be open from 10.30-13.30. There has never been a better time to visit.

Admission fees apply. For a FREE child’s ticket to visit the Museum, head over to Hampshire Top Attraction’s Voucher page (T&Cs apply)

Wheels at the 'works
2023-08-20 11:00 - 16:00
Every August we celebrate wheels at the ‘works – an homage to anything on wheels. From cars to buses, and our miniature railway – join us as we enjoy a wheely great family day out.
Here’s the full event listing from Events Supremo Pam:
There will be MG and Mini Car Clubs, Other Classic Cars, Traction Engines, Buses, Harleys and other Motorbikes on display in our yard, as well as live music.
Large Model Railway Layout and Miniature Train Rides (small extra fee).
Inside – Model Cars, Meccano Exhibition, Craft & Gift Stalls and our popular Prehistoric Adventure trail, PLUS the Brickworks Museum with working machinery, Children’s Play Areas and Local History Display. Our vintage slot machines will be working (£1 for 6 old pennies).
There is something for everyone!

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 and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Back to the Brickworks - an event using LEGO® bricks
2023-08-23 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-24 11:00 - 16:00
Guess who’s back. Back again. THE BRICK PEOPLE are back. Tell a friend.
We are delighted to welcome The Brick People back to the Museum as they celebrate two years of running brick-based brilliant events using LEGO® bricks.
On August 23rd and August 24th, find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
If that wasn’t enough, the Museum with its two play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays is included in your ticket price!
Book your entrance time but stay as long as you like. Most visits last 1-2 hours.
Tickets are available on this link now!
Our onsite Café will be open for drinks and light bites.
The small print – please book a ticket for everyone in your party. Free tickets are bookable for children aged 4 and under, Museum members and anyone with a complimentary ticket. These events are very popular and we cannot guarantee entry to anyone without a booked ticket. Annual members, concessions and anyone with a complimentary ticket will be asked to provide proof on arrival.

Heritage Open Days
2023-09-13 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-14 11:00 - 16:00
See the Museum for free! In celebration of Heritage Open Days – a national event that aims to make heritage accessible to all – we throw open the doors to one and all. If you have always wondered what the museum was like, come and check us out without spending a penny.
At 12 noon join Museum Director Carolyne and Collections Manager Mary who will be giving a short talk about the History of Bricks – all 2,000 years of it! Accompanied by examples from our collection, this brand new experience is not to be missed.
We will be asking for donations towards the upkeep of the Museum from anyone attending the talk.

The Trains Take Over
2023-09-24 11:00 - 16:00
Back for 2023 is our ever-popular Trains Day when the trains take over. Ride the rails as autumn sets in at The Brickworks Museum.
Here’s the full events listing from Events Supremo Pam:
Various Model Railway Layouts inside, some large, also Railway Sales. Very large 16mm Layout outside in marquee. Live Music, Army Vehicles, Miniature Train Rides (small extra fee), Traction Engines, Living Wagons. Also inside – Brickworks Museum with working machinery, Children’s Activities and Play Areas and Vintage Slot Machines.

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 and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.​
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Grandparents go FREE on October 1st
2023-10-01 11:00 - 16:00
In honour of Grandparents’ Day 2023 you can bring your Granny, Grandad, Nan, Nonno or grandparently-like person to the Museum FOR FREE on October 1st. We have everything from big machines to bricks (obviously); Charming cottage reconstructions and a beautiful wildlife garden. There really is something for everyone.
Small print – to get a grandparent into the museum for free, someone has to accompany them and confirm that they are indeed a grandparents or someone who fulfils that role in their life. Failing that, the grandparent in question has to give us some olde-worlde wisdom #rules.

The Brickworks in WW1
2023-10-11 11:30 - 13:00
On October 11th, meet the women of the works who held the fort at the factory in WW1. They made bricks, but there were also rumours of mysterious deliveries from the War Office and strange smells coming from the clay pits. Join us and find out what the women were working on – plus find out about life in Victorian and Edwardian Britain. Our costumed crew will be in character to tell you their stories and answer your questions.

Pop in between 11.30 and 1pm to find out about the women of the ‘works.
Admission fees apply; there is no extra cost for this event, it is included in your admission fee.

Halloween and Autumn Steam Up
2023-10-22 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.
Here’s the full listing from Events Supremo Pam:
Autumn Steam Up & Halloween 22nd October 11 until 4.
Traction Engines, Working Demonstrations, Stationary Engines, Fairground Organ and more as arranged by The Steam Group. Train Rides (small extra charge). Inside – Halloween Decorations, Hampshire Bat Group, Miniature Railway Layouts, Craft & Gift Stalls including spinning, pottery, fossils & gemstones, cards, candles and others. Brickworks Museum with working machinery, Vintage Slot Machines and Children’s Play Areas.

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 and visitors aged 4 and under come in for free.
Train rides and Children’s Craft Activities carry a small extra charge that goes towards the upkeep of the railway and the Museum.

Brick or Treat - The BRICK People bring LEGO® to the museum for Halloween
2023-10-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-26 11:00 - 16:00
The BRICK People have joined forces with The Brickworks Museum again to present an interactive family day all about bricks in October half-term. Find the models and minifigures hidden around the museum, see the display of models made from LEGO®, enjoy the free play areas AND add a LEGO® Dot mosaic tile to the wall.
If that wasn’t enough, the Museum with its two play areas, interactive exhibits and fascinating displays is included in your ticket price!
Our onsite Café will be open for drinks and light bites.
Tickets for both days (25th and 26th October) are on sale now. Annual Members of The Brickworks Museum should book free tickets for their party using the option on the booking site. Get your tickets here.
