The Brickworks Museum

Halloween and Autumn Steam Up
2023-10-22 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | The Brickworks, Swanwick Lane, Lower Swanwick, SO31 7HB, United Kingdom
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.

Discovery Tours
2023-10-18 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-10-18 11:30 - 12:30, 2023-09-20 14:30 - 15:30, 2023-09-20 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.

Conserving The Brickworks Tour
2023-10-15 11:30 - 13:30
Have you ever wanted to know more about how we conserve our collection? From the machinery to the fabric of the building – our site needs a huge amount of care and attention to protect the collection we hold for future generations.
This summer our conservation volunteer John is on hand to share some of the secrets and chemical alchemy that keep our site safe from corrosion and collapse. It’s really interesting stuff brought to life by a former employee of the Bursledon Brick Company and definitely not to be missed.

The Pan Mill Under Conservation

Dates for 2023 are:
15th October starting at 11.30am and again at 1.30pm
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.

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.

Wedding Fayre
2023-10-08 11:00 - 16:00
The Brickworks Museum and Stacey Page Weddings cordially invite you to a Wedding Fayre. Meet suppliers whilst listening to live music at this free event. Please RSVP by booking your tickets online now – the first 30 bookings will receive a free gift on arrival.
Come along and view the Museum as a unique wedding venue. We will be showing our authentic site styled elegantly, with a fun photobooth, lots of gorgeous bespoke bridal party and wedding gifts and many other fantastic suppliers to meet, including a beautiful vintage Morris Minor called Audrey.
Bring along your notepad and enjoy doing some ‘wedmin’ whilst listening to a phenomenal wedding band outside in our courtyard. Bring your bridal party, fiancé and family, and enjoy the day with us. Stacey Page Weddings (highly commended at the 2023 Wedding Industry Awards) will be with us to meet you all and chat about planning or coordinating your special day too.
For more information about booking the Museum as a unique wedding venue, visit Brickyard Weddings and Events.
ENTRANCE TO THE FAYRE IS FREE
If you would like to visit the Museum as well, we are offering discounted entrance to everyone visiting on October 8th. Prices are below.

Ticket Type

Wedding Fayre discounted entrance price

Adult
£5

Children
£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

The small print – Free gift is available to the first 30 bookings; one gift per booking. The fayre is free to enter but guests are asked to pre-book so that we can manage numbers on the day; the fayre is open from 11am until 4pm, last entry 3pm. Please pop in at any point during the day to enjoy the suppliers. Entrance to the Museum is reduced on October 8th, prices outlined above.

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 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.

Heritage Open Days
2023-09-14 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-13 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 Brickworks Museum and the Prehistoric Adventure
2023-09-03 11:00 - 16:00, 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 and 5 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.

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
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
