Still time to see heritage gems
ANYONE who missed the opening of the National Heritage Open Days festival has another chance to join in this weekend.
England’s largest voluntary cultural event, and a celebration of local and national heritage, opens the doors of some of Rochdale’s most beautiful buildings for free.
Though it began on September 13, there are still many sites open over the next few days, including Littleborough History Centre, open from 11am4pm on Saturday and 12-3pm on Sunday, and the Horse Carrs building, open from 1-6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
There will be a free one-hour tour of Rochdale town hall - with four groups on Friday and two on Saturday - and Rooley Moor Heritage Trails will also be open from 10am5pm all weekend.
Church-lovers can take a peek at the wealth of wonders inside St. Edmund’s, in Falinge, or visit a Temple Moore at St Aidan’s Church, in Sudden.
Folk arts group Oakenhoof, from Littleborough, will be performing across Rochdale on Saturday with performances at The Baum (11am-1pm), Touchstones (1.30-3pm) and The Flying Horse (3-4.30pm). Oakenhoof are an all-age, open folk arts group that aims to develop and share the joy of folk dance, music and song, stories and visual arts.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Heritage Open Days and in recognition of the national theme “People Power, 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre”, Touchstones Rochdale will be hosting two artists for a talk about their new graphic novel based on the Peterloo Massacre.
The talk will take place at 11am on Saturday and will be followed by a Blue Badge Guided Heritage Trail that explores Rochdale’s architectural heritage, departing at 1.30pm.
Booking is required for both events by calling 01706 924928.
The museum’s Local Studies Centre will also be open on Friday and Saturday from 10am5pm where you can gain an insight into what effect ‘People Power’ had on the local area.
The event is co-ordinated nationally by the Heritage Open Days National Partnership and locally by Link4Life.
A full list of the sites open to the public can be seen on the Heritage Open Days website.