It’s the second weekend in September so it is Heritage Open Weekend and across the North West there is a fantastic array of new events and openings and a new partnership with Riba’s ‘Love Architecture’ campaign, with dozens of special tours and talks.
Hundreds of events will take place over the four-day weekend, with opportunities to climb up clock towers, learn to clog dance or discover the history of some of the north-west’s biggest industries. Thanks to new funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, along with support from Heritage England and the National Trust, Heritage Open Days has never had more to celebrate.
At Victoria Baths, widely recognised as Britain’s finest municipal swimming pool and today you can still discover the rich terracotta, decorative tiling, sumptuous tiles and mosaics. Explore the building using the information boards and view all three pools, the Turkish Baths suite, entrance halls, Superintendent’s Flat and other spaces on the ground and first floor. There will also be free choir performances – on Saturday by The Gallery Choir and Sunday by Ordsall Acapella Singers.
The Portico Library in Mosley Street is opening up the wonderful Reading Room for all to see. Tea, coffee and homemade cake will be available all day, and staff and volunteers will be on hand to chat with you about this fantastic gem in the heart of Manchester’s city centre.
Meanwhile Heaton Hall opens its doors for a rare showing
Across Oldham Highlights include ‘St Mary’s Estate on Film’ at George Street Chapel, ‘Our People, Our Lives’ at St Matthew and St Luke, Chadderton, 800 years of worship at St Chad’s Church, Saddleworth, The history of Failsworth Hats at Failsworth Library, Drystone walling in Shaw, The Royton Heritage Walk around Royton Town centre and Tours of the clock tower at Holy Trinity, Bardsley.
Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Co-operatives, said: “Once again we’ve organised an excellent programme of events and opportunities so residents can learn about the rich heritage of our borough.
“Residents may not realise how much interesting history we have on our doorstep so I hope that they will take advantage of these events and get an insight into the history that is all around them.”
Stockport’s Heritage Trust will be putting on a display about the history of Stockport’s Theatres, Music Halls and Cinemas.
A short video of some of the famous names of stage and screen that once entertained the Stockport crowds, will be playing in St. Mary’s church in the Market Place, from 11am – 3pm.
Three guided walks around the history of Stockport early entertainments, will take place from the Dungeon at 12noon, 1pm and 2pm.
Further afield around the NW Here are some of the treasures
Beecham’s Clock Tower & Offices, St Helens – NEW for 2015 & Only open for HODS
The iconic Grade II listed Beechams Clock Tower and Offices were built as the headquarters and factory for the Beecham pharmaceutical company in the 1880s. Visitors can see some of the most historic parts of the building including the office of Joseph Beecham, St Helens Mayor in the late 19th Century. There will also be a photo exhibition of Beecham’s pills, medicines and posters.
Sunday 10am-4pm
2. Clog Dancing, Blackburn – NEW for 2015
6 clog dancing teams from the region will descend on Blackburn for a day of dance, performing on Sudell Cross, outside Liz n Lil’s on Saturday. On Sunday, Blackburn’s newly trained clog dancing apprentices from St Thomas’s school, winners of the Blackburn BID’s heritage festival competition will perform. The children will show off their newly acquired dancing skills with their tutor, Alex Fisher, Lancashire’s clog dancing expert, outside Sudell Cross, next to the big wheel on Sudell Cross.
Sat 10.30am-12pm & 2-4pm, Sun 12-1pm
3. Lancashire United Open Depot Day – NEW for 2015
Take the free Shuttle Bus from the town centre to the depot, which dates back to 1881. Visitors get a full of the depot, including a ride through the bus wash and the chance to see numerous heritage vehicles and discover how buses have changed through the years. There will be plenty of family activities including a bouncy castle, face painting, giveaways and food stalls.
Sat 10am-4pm
4. Allan Bank, Grasmere, NEW for 2015 and FREE to visit
As part of Heritage Open Days, hundreds of National Trust properties open for free and Allan Bank is offering tours of the labyrinthine cellars, previously inaccessible to visitors. The house was first tenanted by William Wordsworth and his circle of Lake poets; explore the fascinating Mountaineering Library on the first floor, stroll through the park-like grounds or curl up by the fire with a cup of tea.
Sat 10am-4pm (tours 12 & 3pm, must be pre-booked)
5. Lion Salt Works Museum, Northwich – NEW for 2015!
Explore Mid-Cheshire’s salty past! Salt production in Mid-Cheshire was a thriving industry; local towns were shaped by its presence and the products exported to countries all over the world. For the first time heritage sites across Northwich (the hub of Cheshire’s salt industry) will open for free, including the Lion Salt Works – one of the last open-pan salt works in Cheshire, and one of only 4 in the world!
Sat 10am-4pm, tours 11,12, 1.30 and 2.30pm
6. The Calderstones, Liverpool – ONLY open for HODS
Older than Stonehenge, older than the Pyramids…closed to the public since the 1980s, this is a rare chance to see the Calderstones up close and personal. 5000 Years Ago the first settled humans chose the area of south Liverpool as a special landscape, building a huge burial monument of stone and earth. The people are gone, the monument has gone but the Calderstones remain. Six megaliths which tell the story of Liverpools first settlers, Merseysides oldest human monument.
Thurs-Sat 10am-4pm
7. Happy Birthday Smithy!, Eccleston, Merseyside – NEW for 2015
This year Smithy Heritage Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary, and HODS weekend marks the end of the Smithy’s open season. The year’s grand finale will be jam-packed full of fun things to do; to tie in with our dog-themed exhibition, “Man’s Best Friend”, we’ll be having a fun dog show with help from the Dogs Trust. On Sunday, bake a birthday cake for the Great Eccleston Bake-off, to be judged by St Helens WI. There will also be family-friendly craft activities, interactive games and puzzles.
Sat-Sun 12-5pm
