Home - Crawley Museum
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Archived: 2026-04-23 15:32
Home - Crawley Museum
Crawley Museum
We have two museums: Crawley Museum and Ifield Watermill
Learn More
About Crawley Museum
Crawley Museum is an independent local history museum. It tells the history of the town through objects and their stories. It consists of two museums, Crawley Museum and Ifield Watermill.
Crawley Museum
Crawley Museum is a place where you can find out about the history of the town and the surrounding areas. We tell the history of Crawley through objects and and exhibits along with the stories associated with them.
We have an active programme of events, temporary exhibitions and permanent collections which reflect various aspects of the town and the local area's development. We have educational and entertaining aspects alongside the historical, making the space appealing to all. Our collections include objects from Crawley's prehistory and iron age beginnings, its medieval settlement, the Victorian town and the 20th Century New Town development.
We also collect contemporary objects, putting them in context with society today, as well as their connections with the past.
We celebrate Crawley’s communities today through our oral history collections, temporary exhibitions and community engagement projects. Items on permanent display include our 1903 Rex Forecar and a Bronze Age sword.
We also have a temporary exhibition space with displays which change regularly, but which always reflect the varied and rich community which makes Crawley its home.
Ifield Watermill
Ifield Watermill is believed to be the only working Watermill in West Sussex which is still powered by its original water source (the Ifield millpond). Though there were known to be mills in the area from as early as 1274, Ifield Watermill was in operation from 1660.
Rebuilt following a fire in 1683, it continued to operate commercially right up until the 1920s when it was left to deteriorate. Ted Henbery was alerted to its presence by his son, and together with the local rescue archaeologist John Gibson-Hill they set up a restoration group to work on rebuilding the watermill. Work started on the restoration in 1974, and the watermill now boasts a working waterwheel as well as the renovated mill building itself. While restoration work at the mill is ongoing, Ifield Watermill contains a variety of working mechanical instruments which show how the mill used to function when it was operational. It also houses exhibitions about the history and restoration of the Mill and the history of the local area.
Plan Your Visit
Opening Times
Crawley Museum is
open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30 to 4pm.
We have our own car park (authorised parking only) all registrations must be registered at the reception desk. Blue badge holders are not exempt from the terms and conditions herein.
Ifield Watermill opening days for 2026
Sunday 26th April 2-5pm
Sunday 10th May (National Mills Day) 12-5pm
Sunday 24th May 2-5pm
Sunday 14th June 2-5pm
Sunday 28th June 2-5pm
Sunday 12th July 2-5pm
Sunday 26th July 2-5pm
Sunday 9th August 2-5pm
Sunday 30th August 2-5pm
Sunday(National Heritage Day) 13th September 12-5pm
Sunday 27th September 2-5pm
Contact Us
Phone:
01293 539088
Email:
office@crawleymuseums.org
What's on
News & Events
News and events which are taking place at Crawley Museum and Ifield Watermill
Mar 25, 2026
Easter Family Fun
Read More
Sep 12, 2025
Ifield Watermill National Heritage Day
Read More
May 06, 2025
National Mills Open Day
Read More
View More
Social
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Site Map
Home
About Us
Crawley Museum
Ifield Watermill
Community
Education
Blog
Exhibitions
Shop
Donate
Contact Us
Shop Terms & Conditions
Visit Us
01293 539088
office@crawleymuseums.org
The Tree
103 High Street
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 1DD
© 2026 Crawley Museum All Rights Reserved
Website created by
Creative Pod
Crawley Museum
We have two museums: Crawley Museum and Ifield Watermill
Learn More
About Crawley Museum
Crawley Museum is an independent local history museum. It tells the history of the town through objects and their stories. It consists of two museums, Crawley Museum and Ifield Watermill.
Crawley Museum
Crawley Museum is a place where you can find out about the history of the town and the surrounding areas. We tell the history of Crawley through objects and and exhibits along with the stories associated with them.
We have an active programme of events, temporary exhibitions and permanent collections which reflect various aspects of the town and the local area's development. We have educational and entertaining aspects alongside the historical, making the space appealing to all. Our collections include objects from Crawley's prehistory and iron age beginnings, its medieval settlement, the Victorian town and the 20th Century New Town development.
We also collect contemporary objects, putting them in context with society today, as well as their connections with the past.
We celebrate Crawley’s communities today through our oral history collections, temporary exhibitions and community engagement projects. Items on permanent display include our 1903 Rex Forecar and a Bronze Age sword.
We also have a temporary exhibition space with displays which change regularly, but which always reflect the varied and rich community which makes Crawley its home.
Ifield Watermill
Ifield Watermill is believed to be the only working Watermill in West Sussex which is still powered by its original water source (the Ifield millpond). Though there were known to be mills in the area from as early as 1274, Ifield Watermill was in operation from 1660.
Rebuilt following a fire in 1683, it continued to operate commercially right up until the 1920s when it was left to deteriorate. Ted Henbery was alerted to its presence by his son, and together with the local rescue archaeologist John Gibson-Hill they set up a restoration group to work on rebuilding the watermill. Work started on the restoration in 1974, and the watermill now boasts a working waterwheel as well as the renovated mill building itself. While restoration work at the mill is ongoing, Ifield Watermill contains a variety of working mechanical instruments which show how the mill used to function when it was operational. It also houses exhibitions about the history and restoration of the Mill and the history of the local area.
Plan Your Visit
Opening Times
Crawley Museum is
open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30 to 4pm.
We have our own car park (authorised parking only) all registrations must be registered at the reception desk. Blue badge holders are not exempt from the terms and conditions herein.
Ifield Watermill opening days for 2026
Sunday 26th April 2-5pm
Sunday 10th May (National Mills Day) 12-5pm
Sunday 24th May 2-5pm
Sunday 14th June 2-5pm
Sunday 28th June 2-5pm
Sunday 12th July 2-5pm
Sunday 26th July 2-5pm
Sunday 9th August 2-5pm
Sunday 30th August 2-5pm
Sunday(National Heritage Day) 13th September 12-5pm
Sunday 27th September 2-5pm
Contact Us
Phone:
01293 539088
Email:
office@crawleymuseums.org
What's on
News & Events
News and events which are taking place at Crawley Museum and Ifield Watermill
Mar 25, 2026
Easter Family Fun
Read More
Sep 12, 2025
Ifield Watermill National Heritage Day
Read More
May 06, 2025
National Mills Open Day
Read More
View More
Social
YouTube
Site Map
Home
About Us
Crawley Museum
Ifield Watermill
Community
Education
Blog
Exhibitions
Shop
Donate
Contact Us
Shop Terms & Conditions
Visit Us
01293 539088
office@crawleymuseums.org
The Tree
103 High Street
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 1DD
© 2026 Crawley Museum All Rights Reserved
Website created by
Creative Pod