The Brickworks Museum

The Brickworks Museum and the Prehistoric Adventure
2023-08-31 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-30 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-17 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-16 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-13 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-10 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-09 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-06 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) and 5 more dates | The Brickworks, Swanwick Lane, Lower Swanwick, SO31 7HB, United Kingdom
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.

Back to the Brickworks - an event using LEGO® bricks
2023-08-24 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-23 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.

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.

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)

Wednesday Local Market
2023-08-02 10:30 - 13:30, 2023-07-26 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

Discovery Tours
2023-07-19 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-07-19 11:30 - 12:30
Have you ever wanted to know more about the factory, machinery and bricks in our collection? Ever walked around the museum and wondered what you were looking at? Or had any burning questions about the life and times of the Bursledon Brick Company?
If so, we have good news! Once a month our experienced tour guides – Richard and Bob – will lead tours through the museum and answer your questions about the BBC and brickmaking in Bursledon.

Dates for 2023 are:
19th July 11.30am and 2.30pm
20th September 11.30am and 2.30pm
18th October 11.30am and 2.30pm

These engaging and informal tours, aimed at regular museum visitors, are included in the standard museum admission prices and do not need to be pre-booked. Tours last approximately one hour and you are welcome to stay on site and explore the museum and our collections after your tour.

Tours for larger groups and for organised adult groups (such as WI, U3A and Men’s Sheds) still need to be booked separately – for full details about booked group tours, click this link.

Wednesday Local Market
2023-07-19 10:30 - 14:30, 2023-07-12 10:30 - 14:30, 2023-07-05 10:30 - 14:30, 2023-06-28 10:30 - 14:30, 2023-06-21 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

Steampunk and Victoriana
2023-07-16 11:00 - 16:00
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.

The Minstead Trust present 21st Century ABBA
2023-07-15 20:00 - 22:00
ABBA are back, live on stage thanks to the award winning 21st Century ABBA.

Remember the days of sequins, flares and platform boots? Remember the songs you know and love: Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Take a Chance on Me, Super Trouper and many, many more? Want to be taken back to a time when the airwaves were filled with Agnetha and Frida’s infamous harmonies and the dancefloor was packed with people moving to the unforgettable music of Benny and Bjorn? 21st Century ABBA faithfully recreate all the greatest hits of the Super Swedes, using live musicians to rock your socks off!
21st Century ABBA’s stand-out shows have been wowing audiences the world over since their formation in 2018. The band’s Agnetha and Bjorn won the UK’s coveted number No. 1 ABBA Tribute Act at the National Tribute Awards for four consecutive years. Now, teamed up with Benny and Frida, they perform as 21st Century ABBA. Following recent performances in such faraway places as Jordan, The Maldives, Romania and Switzerland, we are very excited to announce that on 15th July 2023, they will be heading to The Brickworks Museum’s Batley Room Hall to put on a stellar performance in Southampton.
This event is organised and run by our partners at The Minstead Trust and is standing/dancing so please wear appropriate footwear and dance the night away!
Tickets are on sale now, click here to book – get in early to avoid disappointment.

Mid-Summer Fair
2023-06-25 11:00 - 16:00
During the hot summer months the brickmakers laid their bricks outside to dry before firing. Come and celebrate the mark of mid-summer with us as we enjoy our June Museum in Steam event.
We are joined for the event by the incredibly talented Red Stags Morris Dancers and the Rock-a-Fellas Band who play popular hits froms the 50s to the 80s. There will be Beekeepers, and you can try your hand at a traditional coconut shy. Outside will be the heritage buses, the Mini Car Club, and train rides on the Museum railway for a small extra fee.
Inside the Museum you can explore the South Coast Modellers display; very tiny railway layouts; craft & gift stalls including lacemaking, jams, fused glassware, cards, pottery & felt work, jewellery AND wax melts.
As if that wasn’t enough the Brickworks machinery will be in steam, our vintage arcade will be on and both children’s play areas will be open. With all the fun of the fair, there has never been a better time to visit.

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.

Dads Go Free this Father's Day
2023-06-18 11:00 - 16:00
Dads go free this Father’s Day at The Brickworks Museum. Bring your dad to Hampshire’s most dadly day out – yes we have bricks!
Small print – to get a dad into the museum for free, someone has to accompany him and confirm that he is indeed a dad, stepdad, grandad or dad-like figure in their life. Failing that, the dad in question will have to tell us a dad joke #rules.
