CENTURIES OF HERITAGE READY TO BE EXPLORED
England’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days, returns this week. Running from Friday to September 19, the festival offers the chance to see hidden places and try new experiences, often in the company of experts. takes a look at w
St Helen’s Church, Ashby
September 11, 9.30am to 4pm Heritage boards telling stories of the churchyard and Hastings Chapel, and free guided tours of the church (10.30am, noon and 2pm).
Co-operative Living History, World Habitat, Memorial Square, Coalville September 18, noon to 5pm
An exhibition of stories, photos and objects celebrating the co-operative movement in Coalville and Leicestershire.
St Peter’s Church, Thornton
September 11, 10am to 5pm, September 12, 2pm to 5pm
The 14th Century grade I-listed church will be open to visitors.
St Martin’s Church, Desford
September 11, 10am to 6pm
An opportunity to see how a traditional parish church has been adapted for use in the 21st century.
The Atkins Building in Hinckley – Then and Now Exhibition
September 10, and 13 to 17, 9am to 5pm daily
Tells the building’s story from factory through restoration to its present day use.
Hinckley and District Museum, Lower Bond Street
September 11 and 18, 10am to 4pm, and 19, 2pm to 4pm.
Thatched timber box framed cottages dating from the 1680s.
Hinckley Town Centre Display, Castle Street and Argents Mead
September 11 and 18, 10am until 4pm A stand in Hinckley Market showing local history and members of the group to talk to. There will also be activities in Argents Mead, with medieval food displays and falconry.
Clock Room Tours, St Mary’s Church, Hinckley
September 10, 11, 17 and 18, 9.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm. Booking is preferred, by calling Geoff Fuller on 07890 327286.
Accompanied visits to the clock room, located in the church tower. Under 16s are not permitted.
Guided Heritage Walk in Evington
September 11 and 18, 2pm to 4pm Starts at St Denys’ Church, before visiting a medieval moated site, conservation village, chapel and park, finishing with tea and chat.
Abbey Pumping Station Museum, Leicester
September 13, 14 and 16: 11am, noon, 2pm and 3pm. Booking is necessary, via the museum website.
Choose between two different hourlong tours – beam engine or transport shed.
Belgrave Cemetery, self-guided tour, Redhill Way, Leicester
Daily, 8am to 7pm
Explore this Victorian cemetery at your own pace, guided by information posts and a smartphone.
Guided Tours, Belgrave Hall, Church Road, Leicester
September 11 and 12, 11am to 3pm, tours 11.15am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm and 3pm
Includes the cellars and all floors.
Carved in Stone - A Tour of Leicester Cathedral
September 16, noon. Booking necessary, by calling Rebecca Hale on 0116 261 5362, or emailing before 9am on September 12:
Rebecca.Hale@LeicesterCofE Explores the stone of Leicester Cathedral from its Norman origins to the present day.
Grey Friars Legal Quarter Walking Tour
September 12 and 19, 11am, 1pm and 3pm. To book, call 0116 299 4444 and leave a message
Meet at the junction of Millstone
Lane and Wycliffe Street, Leicester for walking tour with a commentary covering the period 1750 to 2021.
Granby Street Conservation Area Walking Tour
September 11 and 15, 2pm.
Meet outside the Merchant of Venice, Granby Street, Leicester. The walk will cover the history of retail buildings in Granby Street and the temperance movement in Leicester.
Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel, East Bond Street, Leicester
September 11 and 12, 10am to 5pm
A grade II-listed building with historic walls containing Roman tiles and an octagonal ceiling.
Tour of Leicester Royal Infirmary September 11, 10am to 11.30am, noon to 1.30pm. Booking is required, by calling 0116 299 4444. Leave a message.
A potted history of the hospital and a short tour of parts of the old building. Some heritage artefacts will be on display.
Leicester Secular Hall Open Day, Humberstone Gate
September 12 and 19, 10am to 4pm Tours of the building and an exhibition of the history of Leicester Secular Society and its hall.
St George’s Serbian Orthodox Church, Rutland Street, Leicester September 11 and 18, 10am to 5pm The first church built in Leicester since the Reformation.
Leicester Civic Society: Celebrating 50 years of Championing Leicester’s Built Heritage, St Mary De Castro Church, Castle View September 18, 10.30am to 6pm
An opportunity to look around the ancient, Grade I-listed church.
Leicester City, County and Rutland At Risk War Memorials Project, The Chancel, behind All Saints Church, Highcross Street, Leicester September 9, 2pm to 5pm; 10, 3pm to 6pm; 11, 10am to 6pm; 12, 2.30pm to 5pm
More than 45 types of war memorials which have been taken into care.
High Street Heritage Action Zone Virtual Newsroom, Online event
September 15, 1pm to 3pm
A two-hour newsroom live stream. Drop in anytime to hear interviews with businesses, updates on restoration projects, local history.
Iskcon, former Leicestershire Banking Corporation HQ, Granby Street, Leicester
September 16, 6pm – talk on the history of Granby Street; 17, noon to 4pm drop-in and public consultation; 18, 11am to 2pm drop-in
Wander around and hear about plans for its development.
Leicester Abbey Guided Walks Abbey Grounds car park
September 14, 10.30am; 16, 2pm. Booking required, by emailing up to two days before the event:
Lev@leicester.gov.uk A 90-minute guided tour of the abbey ruins.
Transport Heritage Day, Central Library, Bishop Street, Leicester September 11, 10am to 1pm
Talk to experts and see documents and items relating to the transport history of the city.
Leicester Print Workshop Old Type Letterpress Activity, St George Street
September 11, tours: 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Booking required, call 0116 251 4174 or email:
k.kneller@leicesterprintworkshop.com See how letterpress was printed on the workshop’s Columbian press and try printing using a beautiful collection of wooden type.
Leicester Synagogue, Highfield Street
September 19, 10am to 4pm Informal tours of the building as well as explanations from members about its use and the Jewish faith.
Guided Tours of Leicester’s Guildhall, Guildhall Lane
September 12 and 14, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3.30pm. Booking required, by calling 0116 253 2569.
Take a tour of this building, which was built in 1390.
Guided Tours of Magazine Gateway, Vaughan Way, Leicester
September 11, 12, 18 and 19, 11am, noon, 1pm, 2pm. Booking required, by calling Stefanie Tyler-Divine on 0116 2254980, or email:
stefanie.tyler-divine@leicester.gov.uk Blue Badge guides will lead tours of this notable medieval building. Tour not suitable for young children or those with mobiilty issues.
Prayer and Pilgrimage Tour, Leicester Cathedral
September 14, noon. Booking required, by calling Rebecca Hale on
0116 261 5362, or emailing:
Rebecca.Hale@LeicesterCofE.org Explores the history of pilgrimage, focusing particularly on St Martin’s as a place of pilgrimage during medieval times.
Richard III Tour, Leicester Cathedral
September 11, noon and 2pm; 15, 2pm; 17, noon. Booking required, by calling Rebecca Hale on 0116 261 5362, or emailing:
Rebecca.Hale@LeicesterCofE.org Looks at the tomb of Richard III, the Redemption windows installed in 2016 and the pall that lay over his coffin.
St Andrew’s Church, Jarrom Street, Leicester
September 11, 10am to 4pm
A rare opportunity to see the interior of this high Victorian masterpiece.
St Margaret’s Church, St Margaret’s Street, Leicester
September 11 and 18, 10am to 4pm View the interior and see displays of the recent tower restoration work.
St Nicholas Church, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester
September 11, 10am to 4pm
Explore the oldest place of worship in Leicester and discover how the building evolved over the centuries since its Saxon origins.
Castle Hill Heritage Park Country Walk, Astill Lodge Road entrance, Leicester
September 15, 2pm. Booking required, by calling 0116 299 4444. Leave a message.
Led by a parks officer, the walk will provide an insight into the park’s history and development.
Church Gate Conservation Area Walking Tour, meet at Clock Tower, Leicester
September 16 and 19, 2pm
A 30-minute walking tour will cover archaeology, history and reference the ongoing Heritage Action Zone in Church Gate and Granby Street.
Western Park Heritage Walk, Hinckley Road entrance, Leicester
September 16, 2pm. Booking is required, by calling 0116 299 4444. Leave a message.
Led by a parks officer, the walk will provide an insight into the park’s history and development.
De Montfort Hall Behind the Scenes - Online event
September 10 to 19
See the hall’s website for details
St Peter’s Church, Belgrave Churchyard Virtual Guided Tour
Any time
Explore the headstones and monuments with a tablet or a smartphone.
Let’s Eat - St Peter’s Highfields, St Peter’s Road
September 11, 10am to 5pm
Visit this 150-year-old church. There will also be cooking demonstrations by the congregation.
Stoneygate Tram Depot - an Edwardian Treasure - Online event September 19, 11am to noon. Booking required. Email:
mike@photostox.co.uk A Zoom presentation by Mike Greenwood, the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust’s director of archives and research.
The City Rooms, Hotel Street, Leicester
September 14 and 16, 11am to 4pm Discover the history from 1792 to the present day.
The Evolution of Medicine and its links to St Martin’s Parish Tour, Leicester Cathedral
September 14, 2pm. Booking required, by calling Rebecca Hale on 0116 261 5362, or emailing:
Rebecca.Hale@LeicesterCofE.org Looks at the role of St Martin’s church and Wyggeston’s Hospital, which stood on the grounds of St Martin’s.
The Y Heritage Summer Fete, Y Theatre, East Street, Leicester
September 13, 14 and 15, 11am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm, 5pm to 7pm. Booking required, via the website.
Original sideshows, Edwardian and mid-20th Century games. Free.
Tours of LCB Depot and Makers’ Yard, and Famly Day, LCB Depot, Rutland Street, Leicester September 11, family day, noon to 4pm; 14 to 16, tours at 10am to 11.30am each day. Booking required, by dropping in beforehand between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, or:
info@lcbdepot.co.uk
Winstanley House, Braunstone Park, Hinckley Road, Leicester
September 13 to 15, 11am to 4pm each day
Walk around this hotel and venue.
525 Years of Loughborough Grammar School Tower Opening and Exhibit, Burton Walks
September 18 and 19, 10am to 3pm The tower and adjacent rooms of will be open to the public to view for the first time.
Loughborough Bellfoundry Trust, John Taylor and Co, Freehold Street
September 11, 11am to 4pm and 12, 11am to 3pm
Guides will take you around the historical buildings. The main site is free to explore but bookings for the bell casting at 1pm daily will be taken on the day.
Loughborough Library and Local and Family History Centre Open Day, Granby Street
September 16, 10am to 4pm
St Peter’s, Church Langton
September 12 and 19, 2pm. Booking required, by calling Roz Folwell on 01858 545160 or emailing:
r.folwell@btinternet.com Join a guided tour of the church.
St Laurence Church, Measham
September 11, 10am and 2pm
Be taken around the church building or do your own tour by mobile phone linked into the church’s Vis Box or online.
Wyfordby Church Heritage Day, Main Road
September 18, 10am to 3pm
Grade II-listed church of Norman and Medieval architecture.