Little Woodham facts for kids
Little Woodham is a special place often called "The Living History Village" or "The Seventeenth Century Village." It's like stepping back in time to the mid-1600s! This living museum shows you what life was like in a quiet country village back then. You can find it in old woodland near Rowner, which is on the Gosport peninsula in Hampshire.
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History of Little Woodham
The small village of Little Woodham first started in 1984. It was created for a short time to show what village life was like just before the English Civil War. Members of The English Civil War Society built it for their make-believe "Battle Of Stokes Bay."
After the battle, volunteers from the Society kept the village open during the summers of 1984 and 1985. They wanted to share this unique experience with visitors.
When the English Civil War Society decided they couldn't continue, local people stepped in. They formed the Gosport Living History Society. Their goal was to keep the village going. They wanted it to be a place for education and a fun tourist attraction.
The Gosport Borough Council helped a lot with money and managing the village until 1995. Then, the Gosport Living History Society became a registered charity. This meant they took full charge of funding and running the village. In 2007, Little Woodham even won an award! It was named "Best Leisure & Tourism Venue" in the "Go Gosport" awards.
What Makes Little Woodham Special?
Little Woodham has some truly unique features you won't find anywhere else!
The 17th Century Pottery Kiln
Imagine a pottery oven from the 1600s! Little Woodham has the only working replica of a 17th-century pottery kiln in the world. It was rebuilt very carefully. They used the same materials and methods that people would have used hundreds of years ago.
This special kiln was first fired in 2015. It has been used every year since then. All the pottery fired in it is made right there. Potters use a "kick wheel turntable" in the 17th-century Pottery workshop. This is how they would have made pots back then.
The 17th Century Coal Forge
The village also has a recreated 17th-century coal forge. This is where a blacksmith would work with metal. Its design came from old clues. These clues included findings from an archaeological dig of a 17th-century blacksmith shop. That shop was built in 1622 in Ferryland, Newfoundland. They also looked at old paintings and drawings from that time.
While the forge itself is a new copy, the tools used inside are very old. The anvils and other tools are hundreds of years old! They give you a real sense of history.
Forge Experience Days
Little Woodham offers special "17th century Forge Experience" days. On these days, visitors can spend time working in the coal forge. A blacksmith from Little Woodham guides them. You can learn how to make iron items from the 1600s. You'll use traditional skills with steel and wrought iron. It's a great way to see how things were made long ago.
Other Trades and Crafts
Beyond the kiln and forge, many other trades and crafts are shown throughout the village. You can see people working as:
- Weavers and wool dyers
- Wood turners
- Button makers
- Apothecaries (who made medicines)
- Scribes (who copied documents)
- Tricksters (for entertainment)
- Barber surgeons (who did both haircuts and small medical procedures)
And many more!
Events at Little Woodham
Little Woodham hosts several exciting events throughout the year:
- May Day: This event features traditional story-telling. Houses are decorated, and you might see the Green Man and the Hobby horse.
- 17th century Kiln firing: Watch the Master Potter load and fire the unique 17th-century pottery kiln. All the pottery in the kiln was made by hand. It was created in the 17th-century potter's workshop using a kick wheel.
- Craft Day: This is a day when many skilled craftspeople gather. You can see leather workers, walking stick makers, potters, blacksmiths, weavers, woodworkers, and quilters working in the village.
Filming at Little Woodham
Little Woodham is a popular spot for filming. It has worked with many film companies. These include the BBC, Channel 4, and Channel 5. Many independent film companies from different countries also use the village. It's also a favorite place for film students working on their projects.
