Our Open Weekends are for everyone: families, couples, friends - anyone with an interest in history will enjoy the day.
Pre History
30th and 31st March 2024
Times
10am open
1030 site tour from Longhouse
1100 Archery and javelin demo
1130 Storytelling
1200 Monolith move
1230 Vicus—Iron age and Roman combat display
1330 story telling
14:00 site tour
14:30 Monolith Move
1500 Vicus gladiatorial display—arena
1600 close
All day
Cobb bricks
Stone age crafts
Hurdle making demo
Blacksmithing
Vicus living history camp
Sanctuary paints and pigments
SOME DISPLAYS ARE WEATHER DEPENDENT
Dark Ages open weekend
27th and 28th July 2024
Apple weekend
21st to 22nd September 2024
10am to 4pm
Tickets to all events £10 per adult.
£5 for children. Under 4's free
No dogs allowed on site due to livestock.
Tickets available on the gate.
Why not bring a picnic?
Scrummy tea and cake available. Sometimes a BBQ. Full programme of events nearer the time.
The Ancient Technology Centre is a community. We have our regular visitors who hire our Earthouse for their events. See below for more details.
We are delighted to be the hosts of Earthkin events and seasonal celebrations.
It is always a night to remember with music and performances to fit the season.
Ellie is also a celebrant and leads handfastings some of which take place at our centre in our replica historic buildings.
Next event
Winter Solstice 22 December 2023
In a field on the outskirts of Cranborne village, there is a hill, and it has a door…
One of Dorset’s best kept secrets, the Earthouse is a 200-seat theatre – lit by lamplight and fire-light. Here audiences sit on wooden benches, under an earth roof, held up by 21 huge oak tree trunks… they come to listen to stories. The Ancient Technology Centre works with the Crick Crack Club to bring some of the finest contemporary performance storytellers to this fabulous off-beat venue – turning it into a cinema of the imagination.
‘I was spellbound – I don’t use the word lightly’ THE TIMES
‘the art of storytelling is in the surest, safest hands here’ REMOTE GOAT
For those wishing to book tickets for future storytelling events, we strongly recommend joining the Crick Crack Club's mailing list so you are notified when tickets go on sale.
Due to the nature of the site there are areas which may prove to be challenging to access during a visit and especially when dark or during periods or wet or inclement weather. If you have any concerns regarding accessibility please call the centre on 01725 517618.
Jaminaround is special night of top quality music and storytelling in the unique, enchanted and intimate setting of our Earthouse. Find out more when their next event is.
Due to the nature of the site there are areas which may prove to be challenging to access during a visit and especially when dark or during periods or wet or inclement weather. If you have any concerns regarding accessibility please call the centre on 01725 517618.
Copyright © 2017 Ancient Technology Centre - All Rights Reserved. Photographs courtesy of AWD Photography, Tony Harris , and various Volunteers including Clive Perrin