Over 150 historic properties across West Yorkshire are opening their doors for free as part of Heritage Open Days this September.
From a chance to trawl through the dusty archives of a stunning Grade I Moravian Church, to a guided walk through one of England’s finest suburbs (Manningham in Bradford) and chance to see the oldest loos in Leeds, Heritage Open Days offers people the chance to explore fascinating historic buildings and places, many of which are normally closed to the public.
The event takes place from Thursday to Sunday, 9 – 12 September, and is run by an army of passionate volunteers and supported by English Heritage.
Helen Keighley, English Heritage Outreach Manager for Yorkshire and the Humber said: “There is a Heritage Open Day attraction around every corner in West Yorkshire, each with a compelling story to tell, and staffed by volunteers who are passionate about their buildings, neighbourhoods and heritage. The range of the properties opening this year is quite remarkable. There really is something for all ages.”
Highlights include:
> Take a tour of Club LS1 – formerley the Leeds Club – an exclusive enclave of elegance and once a favoured meeting place of the city’s well to do. Still a private club, it retains many fabulous fixtures and fittings including the oldest loos in Leeds.
> Hear about the giants and humble folk of Halifax’s past with a guided tour of Lister Lane Cemetery – the last resting place of mill-owners, entrepreneurs, Chartists and artisans.
> Climb the the 69 steps to the top of Lindley Clock Tower in Huddersfield, designed by Edgar Wood in Art Nouveau style.
> Stand to attention in 19th century Pontefract Barracks, once the regimental headquarters of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry which fought in the Peninsula Campaign and the Battle of Waterloo. Enjoy a talk on the history of the Regiment and Barracks and view the Regimental silverware.
> Enjoy a day at Ossett Town Hall with guided tours of Council Chambers, Committee Rooms, Mayor’s Parlour and Court Room in the morning and with artists and musicians waxing lyrical in the afternoon.
> Mine for fascinating information and spend a free day at The National Coal Mining Museum at the Caphouse Colliery, Wakefield
> Hit the trail in Ilkley to help local historians piece together an exhibition about the town’s sports heritage in the lead up to the London Olympics. Local sports clubs have a treasure trove of old documents and the walk will pay a house call on the Lido, skate park, cricket pavilion and rugby club to help piece together the tale.
> See the rare early archives of the Moravian Church, which will be on show for the first time at Fulneck in Leeds. The denomination takes its name from an area of the Czech Republic called Moravia, where the faith gained adherents. Often said to be the first protestant church, believers were persecuted in their Roman Catholic homeland, but the religion revived in Germany. Brethen came to England in the 18th century, setting up a church in Fulneck in the 1840s. Amazing early documents will be on show, the earliest written in archaic High German, covering accounts of everyday life, from births and deaths, to the punishment handed out to miscreant children.
> Enjoy a guided walk around Manningham to mark English Heritage’s publication of the definitive study on the township, which it acclaims it as one of the nation’ outstanding suburbs and once the swankiest place to live in Bradford.
For more information on times and pre-booking details please check the Heritage Open Days website at www.heritageopendays.org.uk You can also ring the Heritage Open Days information line on 020 7539 7907 (lines open until 9 September, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).
