VISITORS to this year’s Heritage Open Days in Warrington will be able to see more of the town’s hidden gems and be treated to more special events than ever before.
Culture Warrington, with assistance from Warrington Civic Society, is leading the town’s participation in England’s largest heritage festival which is designed to give the public a chance to celebrate their community’s history and culture.
Eleven venues across the town centre, including Warrington Town Hall, Warrington Wolves’ Halliwell Jones Stadium and St Elphin’s Church, are taking part in the annual festival which runs from Thursday September 8 to Sunday September 11.
Michelle Hill, collections and archives manager, said: “The Heritage Open Days festival gives the public the chance to explore the town’s hidden places and its culture and heritage.
“This is the first year Warrington has had such a large and co-ordinated offer from a diverse range of heritage partners and I’m really excited to see the event become bigger and better than ever before.
“This year we’ve got everything from costumed tours and visits behind the scenes to organ recitals and corn dolly-making demonstrations.”
Among the huge array of events on offer at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery are a time travel day complete with Stormtroopers and Daleks, workshops on how to date family photos, and the launch of a fascinating new Cabinet of Curiosities display, curated by young women from Warrington Youth Club, which explores the issues they face day to day.
Historic buildings such as The Friends Meeting House, The Warrington Club and St Mary’s Shrine Church will also be throwing open their doors to provide a rare opportunity to explore inside.
Other highlights include an open day at The Museum of Policing in Cheshire, a talk by local author Gill Hoffs on her book about historic shipwrecks, one being the Tayleur which was built at Bank Quay, and access to The British Deaf History Society’s museum and archive.
Mrs Hill added: “This event is also a great opportunity for us to show the amount of hard work that volunteers and groups at these venues carry out every year.
“Collaborating in this national campaign gives Warrington a high profile opportunity to engage people with the town’s rich heritage.”
For more information on the varied and exciting timetable of events coming up visit www.warringtonmuseum.co.uk/whats-on/event/heritage-open-days
The friends meeting House
