Discover our heritage – and
OPEN DAYS OFFER CHANCE TO LEARN ABOUT AREA’S HISTORY
ENGLAND’S largest festival of history and culture is back next month.
Heritage Open Days gives everyone free access to experiences and events across the country.
Venues, many of which are not normally open to the public, will take part, some adopting this year’s theme – Astounding Inventions.
The event will take place from September 9 to 18.
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days marketing and projects manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be focusing in on inventions for this year’s festival, as they offer such an exciting lens for examining heritage.
“From the humble chocolate bar to the World Wide Web, England has an incredibly diverse history of innovation and discovery.
“We wanted to celebrate this by sharing stories from across the regions to really showcase the ingenuity and hard work behind them.
“Once again, we’re very excited to see what our community put together.”
Here are the Leicestershire places and events: St Peter’s Church, Thornton September 10 and 11 14th century grade I-listed church. Historical information will be available.
Open 10am until 4pm on the Saturday, 1pm until 4pm on Sunday.
Astounding Inventions Exhibition, Atkins Building, Hinckley September 9 and 12 to 16
Including marking 300 years since Atkins came to Hinckley. Also, Fully Fashioned Memories Exhibition – photos of Atkins factory workers at work and play from the 1960s to 2002. Open 9am until 5pm. September 10
A walking tour of buildings that have a connection to the Atkins family. 10am to noon. Booking is requried by September 5. Call 01455 247070 or email: info@atkinsbuilding.co.uk
Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel, Hinckley
September 10
Archive material as chapel celebrates its 300th anniversary and talk about the Atkins family. Open 10am until 12.30pm.
Hinckley and District Museum, Lower Bond Street
September 10, 12, 17 and 18
New displays commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the Atkins family hosiery business.
Open 10am to 4pm except September 18 – 2pm to 5pm.
St Mary’s Church Clock Room Tours, Hinckley
September 9, 10, 16 and 17
Tours, maximum eight people, contact Geoff Fuller on 07890 327286 between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.
St Catherine’s Churchyard, Burbage
September 9 and 10
First World War walks 10am, 11am
and 2.30pm, general interest walks 10.30am, 2pm and 3pm. Booking is required, at:
burbageheritage.eventbrite.com
Abbey Pumping Station Museum, Corporation Road, Leicester
September 12, 13 and 15
Separate tours of the beam engine house and transport shed. Maximum of 10 people in each one-hour tour. Tours at 11am, noon, 2pm and 3pm. Booking is required, via: leicestermuseums.org/whats-on
Self-Guided Tour, Belgrave Cemetery
September 9 to 18
Tablet or a smartphone needed for spoken commentary. Open 8am to 7pm.
Braunstone Stables Museum, Hinckley Road, Leicester
September 13
Five rooms of artefacts and information. Open 10am to 2pm.
Jain Centre, Oxford Street, Leicester September 17
One-hour tours, maximum of 50 people. Start 11am and noon.
Leicester City, County and Rutland At Risk War Memorials Project, All Saints Church, Highcross Street, Leicester September 9 to 11
See 45 war memorials which have been taken into care. Open September 9, 3pm to 6pm, September 10, 10am to 6pm, September 11, 2.30pm to 5pm.
Leicester Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate
September 11
Displays and leaflets about the history of the society and the hall, plus guided tours. Open 10am to 4pm.
Leicester Synagogue, Highfield Street
September 11 and 18
Informal tours of the grade II-listed building, as well as explanations from members of the Jewish community. Open 10.30am to 4pm.
St Mary’s Church, Humberstone
September 17 Open 10am to 4pm.
Churchyard Virtual Guided Tour - St Peter’s, Belgrave
September 9 to 18
Tablet or a smartphone needed. Open 8am to 7pm.
St Peter’s Highfields: Our Church Organ An Astounding Invention
September 10
Information and family activities. Open 10am to 5pm.
Walking tour from Leicester Cathedral
to St Mary de Castro Church
September 10
Maximum 10 people per one-hour tour. Start 10am, noon and 2pm. Booking required by September 6, by calling 0116 261 5368 or emailing:
Rebecca.Hale@LeicesterCofe.org
We Are South Highfields! walk Prebend Gardens, Prebend Street, Leicester
September 17
Organised by South Highfields Neighbours residents association, to places of interest. Starts 1pm.
525 years of Loughborough Grammar School
September 17 and 18
The 1852 Building will be open including the tower. Items from the school’s archives will be available to view. Open 10am to 4pm.
Official opening of the refurbished Loughborough Children’s Library
September 16
Includes readings of Songster Loughborough’s own War Horse, by author Alison Mott. Open 10.30am to 4pm. Book talk by August 15, 0116 305 2420.
UNITY House open day, Fennel Street, Loughborough
Built in 1889 by Friendly Societies who formed a Medical Aid Association. Documents and photos. Open 10am to 3pm. Presentations at 11am and 2pm.
Saint Laurence Church, Measham
September 9, 10 and 13 to 16
Guided tour on September 10 at 10am. At other times, welcome to wander. Open September 9, 10am to 11.30am, September 10 and 13 to 15, 10am to 4pm, September 16, 10am to 11.30am.
Sir John Moore Foundation Museum, Top Street, Appleby Magna
September 11
Grade I-listed school, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. New display. Open noon to 4pm.