Discover a wealth of heritage and culture on your doorstep
Heritage Open Days 2006: Thurs 7 - Sun 10 Sept
Thousands
of buildings and places across England will be throwing their
doors open free of charge for Heritage Open Days 2006 from Thursday
7 to Sunday 10 September. Co-ordinated by the Civic Trust in partnership
with English Heritage, this annual celebration brings the fantastic
opportunity for people to discover and enjoy the architecture,
history and culture right on their doorsteps.
With more than 3,000 properties of every style, period and function
and a great variety of associated events and activities, Heritage
Open Days is England's largest cultural event, promising fascinating
insights and fresh inspirations to everyone, whatever their age
or background, interest or taste.
More than 26,000 local volunteers from all walks of life - civic
society members, property owners, estate managers, conservation
officers, company directors, tourism managers and education officers
- contribute their time and enthusiasm to make this national event
happen, while more than 850,000 visitors make the most of the
free invitation each year.
Katja
Condy, Heritage Open Days Manager at the Civic Trust said: "Visitors
are invited into places that are otherwise private, to meet people
who live or work there, or who know the history of the place better
than anyone else. Buildings may be fascinating and awe-inspiring
because of their beauty, style or status, but it's the stories
they tell which make them dearer and bring them closer to us.
And Heritage Open Days, with its huge variety of properties from
manor houses to Masonic halls, from temples to lighthouses, is
all about revealing those stories."
Dr
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "Heritage
Open Days is a great success story for our heritage. It celebrates
people and places and everyone can take part and learn more about
their local history. Hundreds of thousands of people will visit
properties across the country which they would not normally have
access to. Heritage Open Days reflects the huge enthusiasm we
have for our heritage and culture."
Heritage Open Days is a national event, forming part of European
Heritage Days. Local property openings and events are organised
by civic societies, local authorities, amenity societies, museums,
and owners and managers of buildings. It is co-ordinated and managed
nationally by the Civic Trust, with funding from English Heritage.
The directory of events will be available online from mid-July
at www.heritageopendays.org or call 020 7539 7924 - the visitor
enquiry line will be open from 1 August to 12 September, Monday
to Friday, 9 am to 6 pm.
www.heritageopendays.org
The Heritage Open Days Audience Development Programme extends
the enjoyment and educational benefits of Heritage Open Days all
year round to under-represented audiences including families,
school children and people of different cultural backgrounds.
It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional support
from the Department for Education and Skills, the Department for
Culture, Media and Sport, the Frognal Trust, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation,
the WO Street Charitable Foundation and individual donations.
www.heritageopendays.org/education
The Civic Trust is the leading UK charity dedicated to bringing
vitality, sustainability and high quality design to the built
environment. An independent charity, founded in 1957, it works
with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing
partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver
regeneration and local improvement. It is the umbrella body for
850 civic societies across the country, representing over 250,000
individuals committed to improving and caring for places where
people live and work. www.civictrust.org.uk
English Heritage is the government's lead body for the historic
environment in England and is responsible for protecting the best
of the country's unique legacy of historic buildings, landscapes
and archaeological sites for the benefit of this and future generations.
For full details please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk or contact
English Heritage customer services on 0870 333 1181.
|