Weald and Downland Living Museum

Chimneys did not become common in ordinary English houses until the 16th and 17th centuries, in what historians sometimes call the Great Rebuilding.

At the Weald and Downland Living Museum in Sussex, the 15th century farmhouse known as Bayleaf, which originally stood in Kent, had an open hearth in its hall for the first two centuries of its life.

A brick chimney was only added in the 17th century.

So where did the smoke go? It rose, as smoke does, up into the open roof space above the hall, and from there it found its way out.

Yes.

Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, which I still haven't had a chance to go to, but it's also where they filmed The Repair Shop as well.

It's really on the map nowadays because of that.

Mm.

[laughs]

So I'm not sure where this building is.

I'm assuming it is still the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, but it's a very nondescript room, isn't it?

Mm-hmm.