Now in its fourth year, Portslade History Day is a fun - and free -day out for the whole family. For kids there is medieval art, battle reenactments, a medieval camp, costume dressing up and hands-on history stalls. For local history fans there are a number of short talks and guided heritage walks from leading historians and writers. See the full line-up below

Free activities suitable for kids and families

Sussex Medieval society. 11am to 3pm.

Based in their medieval encampment, come see knight battles, medieval cookery, dressing of a knight and lots more in this interactive event. Live demos at11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm and 2.30pm. Sussex Medieval Society

Medieval and Tudor dress up for kids and adults – 11am to 2pm 

Our friends at Gladrags will be on hand to create kings, Queens, knights and much more with their array of stage costumes. Perfect for photos in the manor grounds. Gladrags Costume Hire

The Portslade Tapestry

A thousand years in the making, the 'Portslade Tapestry' shows our history from 1066. This 50 foot long work of art will take you through the key moments of Portslade's history, and even forecasts the future.

Kids medieval art – 10am to 3pm 

Medieval art for kids. Design and colour in your own sword, shield or work of medieval art. Free for all the young nobles and peasants of Portslade. Children must be supervised by an adult. 

Woodvale and Portslade Cemetery Volunteer Group

Woodvale Volunteers are a dedicated group of locals who maintain the grounds of Portslade Cemetery. Come and learn about the history of the cemetery, find out about its 'residents',  ask any questions, and find out how you can get involved. woodvalevolunteergroup Official: Facebook | Linktree

Brighton and Hove Women's History Group. 11am to 3pm

Come and discover some of the notable women who have shaped our city. Brighton and Hove Women’s History Group

Portslade pop-up museum – 10am to 4pm 

A selection of artifacts from 12th century Portslade up to the current day. It includes childhood memorabilia from the 1960s to 1980s , so you can explain to your child what a video tape was and when mobile phones were just used for phone calls.

Meet the archaeologists. Artefacts and more in this hands-on experience – 10 am to 2pm 

Archaeologists from the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society will be displaying some of their finds and answering any questions you may have. Bones, pottery and much more in this hands-on experience. Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society

World war artefacts – hands-on experience 11 am to 3pm 

Portslade historian Zac Down will be displaying his unique collection of World War medals, equipment & weapons for people to look at and handle 

Easthill Park tours – 9.30 am onwards 

Head to the Easthill Park Community Cafe to get your free map in this self-guided tour. Stories of Rich Victorian, great storms and heroic pilots are all included in this free 21-minute downloadable tour. Download the tour here: Portslade History Trail. 1000 years of history in a one mile walk

WALKS AND GUIDED TOURS

Easthill Park tours – 9.30 am onwards 

Head to the Easthill Park Community Cafe to get your free map in this self-guided tour. Stories of Rich Victorian, great storms and heroic pilots are all included in this free 21-minute downloadable tour. Download the tour here: Portslade History Trail. 1000 years of history in a one mile walk

Portslade’s medieval manor house ruins 10am to 3.30pm 

A self-guided tour of this historic site. Once home to Lords of the Manor of Portslade, including a Prime Minister of England and a Lord sentenced to death for treason. Also, it has the oldest toilet in the city. Travel back to 1066 and the era of the Normans.  

Emmaus grounds tour   11am to 11.45am - must be booked in advance 

A stroll around the Emmaus site (including the secret garden) and a history of the Georgian manor house, former convent site, and an insight to the Emmaus community. Book your free space at: freshstartsussex@hotmail.co.uk 

Old Village Conservation area tour – midday to 1pm  - must be booked in advance 

Historian Trevor Povey will transport you back to medieval, Tudor and Victorian Portslade with stories of the how life once was in our little, but desirable village. Book your free spaces at: freshstartsussex@hotmail.co.uk   

Emmaus tour 2.30pm to 3.15pm 

A stroll around the Emmaus site (including the secret garden) and a history of the Georgian manor house, former convent site, and an insight to the Emmaus community. Book your free space at: freshstartsussex@hotmail.co.uk 

Emmaus site tour - self guided. 9.30am onwards

This historic site dates back to 1130. Once home to: the Lords of the manor, a Georgian mansion for a wealthy landowner, a convent for ninety years, and then becoming the Emmaus charity. You can get your free guide and map from the Emmaus shop or the pop-up museum. Or you can download the tour here: Portslade History Trail. 1000 years of history in a one mile walk

HISTORY TALK SCHEDULE FOR ST. NICOLAS CHURCH -

You do not  need to book for these

9.30am to 1010 am . The British Empire and Portslade. Zach Down, war historian 

Portslade soldiers and their contribution to building the largest empire ever seen, covering a quarter of the globe and ruling over 450 million people. From the North-West frontier of India to South Africa, discover 400 years of Empire and the men from Portslade sent to fight for it. 

10.15am to 10.55am. Notable women of Brighton and Hove. Brighton and Hove Women History Group

A discovery and history on women of the past 200 years who have made their mark on the city in a variety of different ways…some names will be more familiar than others, but their impact will be known to all.  The talk will include the origins of the group and the reasons it was set up.

11am to 11.40am. Aspects of Portslade Industrial History. Dr Geoffrey Mead 

“For a small community Portslade has a long and rich industrial heritage; from the coastal activities of fisheries and flint gathering, to downland arable and livestock farming; to the extractive industries around gravel and sand workings and the manufacture of all manner of goods from bricks, gas and flour, to beer, polish and handbags; not forgetting its transport links with the Roman road, the first Sussex steam rail line, the canal and all manner of shipping activity.” 

11.45am to 12.20pm. The houses have a well but neither a bucket nor rope…’. Brighton’s Victorian public health problems. Dr Geoffrey Mead 

Doctor Brighton’ was a well-used phrase in the 19th century, but the reality for many in the seaside resort was very different, with dire, overcrowded housing conditions and dreadful health brought about by the lack of efficient drains or a safe water supply. One medical report noted a street as ‘…having a well but neither a bucket nor rope…’ and many of the streets in the report were not in the appalling slums but in more salubrious areas.” 

12.30pm to 1.10pm. Mucking out – a brief history of toilets and stables. Nick Tyson of The Regency Town House. 

Join Nick Tyson, Curator at The Regency Town House (www.rth.org.uk) for a session that considers waste, its disposal and its value through time or, as a recent review put it, a flowing discourse packed full of solid material that doesn't simply go through the motions!

1.15pm to 2pm. Portslade lost cinemas. Trevor Povey, Sussex historian 

Memories of Portslade’s Cinemas featuring the back row, newsreels, local ads, ice cream, Saturday morning pictures, and of course queueing. Cinemas provided a social meeting place, especially when it rained. 

2pm to 3pm. Portslade reminiscence hour. Vicky Lynch, David Smith and Les Hamilton

David Smith - The Valley Road spy; a nostalgic narrative from a Catholic schoolboy.

Vicky Lynch - Growing up in Portslade Village. Councils, chip shops and ghosts

Les Hamitlon - Changes in land use and Portslade development since 1947.

3pm to 3.45pm. Portslade history discussion in North Aisle led by Vicky, David, Alan and Les Hamiliton 

A Q&A session, with a chance for you to share your memories.

3.45pm to 4.45pm. Music concert with The Pastores Ensemble.  

The Early Music Ensemble with Portslade residents Robert Carrington and Paul Neville explore A MUSICAL TIME SHIFT from the Troubadours of the medieval period to the 21st Century. 

Played on Viola da Gambas ,Lute, Recorder and Mandolin. 

REFRESHMENTS

A range of hot food and drinks in the Emmaus Cafe .

All day breakfasts, burgers, jacket potatoes, veggie options

Teas and coffee in the Parish Centre

Ham & cheese ploughmans £5. Veggie option £5. Cream teas £5

Easthill Park Cafe for hot drinks and ice creams (3 min walk) 

Tea £1. Latte £2.50. Ice creams from £1. Hot dogs £1.50

HOW TO GET HERE

Postcode. BN41 2PA 

What 3 words - ///enjoy.occupy.caves 

Bus  – The number 1 and N1 stop at St Nicolas Church/Old Village. The venue is a one minute walk from here. 

The number 6 stops in Foredown Drive. The venue is a five minute walk from here . Brighton & Hove Buses

Train  – Portslade station is a 1.2 mile walk. There are regular trains from Brighton and Worthing. The number 6 bus can be caught in Station Road or Carlton Terrace.  Train Tickets | Book Train Tickets Online | Buy Train Tickets | Southern Railway

Fishersgate station is 0.9 mile walk.

Car – There is limited street parking around the venue .