In celebration of England’s largest festival of history and culture, dozens of volunteers around Manchester organise and host an array of fascinating one-off events, tours and workshops around the city’s most significant landmarks and venues.
Here are some of the best Heritage Open Days events around Manchester, running until Sun 17 Sep.
Forming part of the RNCM’s 50th Birthday celebrations, Throwing Open the Concert Doors brings the historical hub of northern musical talent to life with a free drop-in day featuring walking tours, alumni stories, archive-inspired craft activities and access to the RNCM’s captivating Collection of Historic Musical Instruments.
On Thu 14 and Sun 17 Sep, The Pankhurst Centre hosts a family-friendly open day during which kids can embark on a creativity trail, make their own Suffragette keyring and discover more about the life and world-changing work of Emmeline Pankhurst.
Led by artists Tim Rushton and Ian Curtin, creators of the iconic Northern Quarter street signs, this free ticketed workshop features a talk on their designs and compelling stories of Manchester Craft and Design Centre in the 80s and 90s, followed by a hands-on mono-printing session which allows guests to make and take home their own artworks.
Once one of Manchester’s first bus garages, the grade-II listed Museum of Transport boasts a collection of over eighty noteworthy vehicles including fire engines, lorries and a prototype Metrolink tram, as well as an array of smaller objects and artifacts like ticket machines, uniforms and badges. Throughout the weekend, the museum welcomes guests for a free journey through Britain’s rich, innovative history of public transport, as well as the opportunity to enjoy a 40-minute bus ride.
Organised by the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society and led by local historian Terry Wyke, this profoundly informative tour of St. Ann’s Square and its immediate surroundings explores the origins of Manchester’s popular shopping district, with detailed discussions of both the church and the original cotton exchange.
Now Manchester’s last working heritage pool, Withington Baths has recently undergone extensive refurbishment to resurrect its beloved Edwardian building after a lengthy state of disrepair, during which it was at risk of closure. On Sat 16 Sep, lead architect Simon Green hosts a one-off tour during which he discusses the careful, loving restorations to various aspects of the baths, including the pitched roof and stained-glass windows, while preserving its original character.
Standing grandly on the edge of the West Pennine Moors, Bolton’s beloved Grade-I listed stately home has also undergone a series of significant restorations since it opened as a museum in 1963. On Wed 13 Sep, Smithills invites visitors to drop in for a free guided tour brimming with romance and drama, with rooms and decorations charting its history since the 14th century.
On Sun 17 Sep, the East Lancashire Railway celebrates Heritage Open Days with two substantial behind-the-scenes sessions, offering unprecedented access to the Castlecroft Sheds engine storage space, a tour of the platform, complimentary access to Bury Transport Museum and a walk around Undercroft.
There are a maximum of 12 spaces per tour, so book below to avoid disappointment.
Promising a gentle guided tour at strolling pace, the Daisy Nook Canal History Walk explores one of East Manchester’s most picturesque areas with a 90-minute round trip down the Hollinwood Branch Canal, and details its economic significance throughout history.
- Words:
- Wolf McFarlane
- Published on:
- Fri 15 Sep 2023
On Sat 16 Sep, HOME invites visitors to a free day of creative activities, talks, displays, quizzes, backstage tours and more, as well as a family film screening of The Princess Bride and special offers in the cafe and restaurant.
Check out the full programme using the link below.