PEOPLE can learn about the intriguing history of a multitude of places across Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa during this year’s free Heritage Open Days.
The events are part of the UK’s largest history and culture festival, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations.
Here are some of the highlights:
Friday, September 9:
* Discover why the Housman family came to Bromsgrove and where they lived, worked and studied in a Housman heritage walk in Bromsgrove at 2.15pm.
Meet at The Green, Crown Close. Booking is essential.
Saturday, September 10:
- In Bromsgrove, people can visit Christ Church, Catshill from 10am to 4pm, for a flower festival and see their famous stained glass windows. The most notable is the ‘The Morcom’ window because of its connection with Christopher Morcom and Alan Turin. The church will also open between 11am and 4pm on Sunday, September 11, and between 10am and midday on Tuesday, September 13.
- All Saints Bromsgrove is also showing a special exhibition of documents, pictures and records about Bromsgrove nailers, Bromsgrove Workhouse, and Davenal House between 10am and 4pm. This is also available to view between 2pm and 4pm on Sunday, September 11
- People can explore the town’s historic Willow Court Farmhouse using Virtual Reality technology at the Westlands Community Centre in Droitwich from 1pm to 4pm. People can also get messy and have a go at a wattle and daub wall. The building has links to Henry VIII.
- Volunteers at the Tardebigge experimental boat lift will be taking visitors on a guided walk around the boat lift in Bromsgrove at various times on Saturday and Sunday.
- At Hampton Lovett Church in Droitwich, they will celebrate the area’s heritage and intervention through hands-on activities and displays. It takes place between 10am and 4pm.
- At St Laurence Church and The Ark in Alvechurch, there will be activities and entertainment from 10am to 5pm, including tours and self-guided tours of the church and churchyard.
Wednesday, September 14:
- Meet the Miller at Bromsgrove’s Avoncroft Museum. Visitors will be transported back in time to see how Millers made bread and experience a taster tour. The event is from 5pm to 7pm. The museum will also display its large national collection of telephone kiosks and show how people stayed connected before the mobile phone. Bookings are now open for both events.
Friday, September 16:
- Visit Bromsgrove Geology and Heritage Walking Trail for a guided 5km walk taking approximately three hours, looking at landscape, outcrops and buildings.
- Meet at 1.45pm on The Green in Crown Close, adjacent to Amphlett Hall, ready for the event to start at 2pm. Booking is essential.
- Across the weekend, people can visit the Sandys Mausoleum, which was created from a medieval chancel, at St Andrew’s Church in Ombersley. Across the weekend, there will be prayers, walking tours and specialist talks.
Saturday, September 17:
- In Droitwich, a behind-the-scenes tour will take place at Droitwich Spa Heritage, and Information Centre between 11am to midday. Booking is required for this event.
- In Bromsgrove, St John’s hosts a coffee and concert day, between 10am and 4pm.
- At Bromsgrove School, between 11am, and 1pm, an extensive collection of achieved material will display the school’s 300 years of history.
- Discover St Michael and All Angels Church, where visitors will dive into this year’s theme of Astounding Inventions. There will be talks, various displays and photographs.
The church will also showcase the collection on Sunday.
Visit the website at heritageopendays.org.uk and select ‘Worcestershire’ to find out more about these events and others taking place across the county and to book the events which need it.
