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Heritage Open Days, a national event that celebrates England’s architecture and culture, will this year take place between 8th and 11th September. Peterborough’s businesses, residents and heritage attractions are all encouraged to play their part in making the event bigger and better than ever.
This annual event is centrally co-ordinated by English Heritage and is England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event. Visitors are allowed free access to interesting properties that are not usually open, or which often charge an entrance fee. Heritage Open Days can also include tours, events and activities that focus on local architecture and culture.
In our city Heritage Open Days are co-ordinated jointly by Peterborough Civic Society and Peterborough Visitor Destination Centre, with a leaflet of participating properties available from the Visitor Destination Centre.
Alice Kershaw, Heritage Regeneration Officer at Opportunity Peterborough said: “What a fantastic opportunity to see some of the brilliant heritage of Peterborough! We have a rich history stretching back thousands of years and this gives local people the chance to see it for free. Get involved by visiting a property, consider opening your house to the public, or offer a tour and highlight what’s great about the historic areas of Peterborough!”
People from all walks of life who care about and take pride in the environment they live in make Heritage Open Days happen. We want to encourage you and thousands of others to explore the buildings on your doorstep and to open your properties, if they meet the criteria. Anybody can participate and register a property with Heritage Open Days, provided that they own or manage it.
Entry Criteria
• Properties included in Heritage Open Days should be of architectural, cultural, historic or social interest.
• You need to provide information to help people understand your building’s history, architectural merit or role in the community. For example, you could offer guided tours, talks, information pamphlets or put on an exhibition.
• All openings must take place on Thursday 8th, Friday 9th, Saturday 10th, or Sunday 11th September 2011. (Organisers can choose the days they wish to open properties or stage events. You do not need to participate on all four days.)
• Admission to properties and participation in activities must be free during the chosen Heritage Open Days opening period. Properties that do normally open free of charge should either open an additional part of the property or arrange a special activity.
Modern buildings, churches, offices, homes, guided walks and children’s activities can all play their part in the event.
About Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days was established in 1994 as England’s contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 49 countries now participate. In the UK, four other schemes open up places in September: Open House London, Doors Open Days in Scotland, Open Doors Days in Wales and European Heritage Days in Northern Ireland.
Provisional interest
If you are interested in participating in Heritage Open Days 2011, please contact the HODs team by emailing: hods@english-heritage.org.uk
Registration is open now!
http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/about/