Amberley is a thirty-six acre open air museum set in the midst of the beautiful South Downs in West Sussex. It is next to Amberley railway station in the Arun River valley, not far from the historic town of Arundel. With its historic buildings, working exhibits and demonstrations the Museum aims to show how science, technology and industry have affected peoples' lives.
Amberley Museum was established in 1979 to preserve the rapidly disappearing industrial history of the south east. Since that time the museum has developed into a major education and research centre, as well as providing an interesting and educational day out.
Today the museum houses a number of important collections, supported by libraries and archives. The museum is also home to six self-employed craftsmen who earn their living while demonstrating their craft to the visitors. Every day craftsmen are working, other demonstrations take place and exhibits are in operation. A vintage bus and narrow gauge railway take visitors around the site.
The Company's Museum of Roads and Roadmaking was established at Amberley in 1995. The Paviors' museum advisory committee is led by Assistant Anthony Morter aided by James Dickson, Paul Higerty and Len Parker. The committee meet regularly with the Museum’s Curator Claire Seymour and members of her staff as appropriate.
In recent years two events have become extremely popular when Paviors and their guests are involved in the annual clean-up day prior to the summer season opening and a Fun Day when members have free entry to the Museum and all facilities. The clean-up day is not all work – it is followed by a picnic lunch and a special bus tour.
In 2009 the Fun Day was made into an extra special event to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of UK Motorways by combining our resources with the Institution of Highways & Transportation and the Motorway Archive Trust. IHT had shared with us the cost of providing new audio-visual equipment which is enhanced by media from the Trust’s Archive. Special educational activities were arranged for the children, the highlight comprising the chance to climb into the ‘cockpit’ of a massive modern paver kindly loaned for the day by LaFarge thanks to Liveryman Dyfrig James. Master Andrew Panter and President of IHT David Tarrant hosted the day and presented the children with their commemorative CPD certificates. Our Chaplain Bernard Metcalfe led a short service of rededication of the sculpture ‘Continuim’ in memory of Nigel Knott, one of the pioneer motorway engineers and former County Surveyor of Hertfordshire.
It is through the good offices of Amberley Museum and their volunteer staff that the Company has been able to have the use of a steam traction engine or roller to pull our float in the Lord Mayors show, an annual event that attracts a massive audience and extensive TV coverage.
Further developments are planned for the improvement and display of artefacts in the Paviors Pavillion – it is hoped to be able to identify and explain the significance of individual items in future postings. Members are invited to contribute factual data about the exhibits that may be in their possession so that the Museum is able to provide unique and accurate educational material to visitors and researchers.
Members of the committee are happy to discuss Amberley matters with any members of the Livery.