England’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Day will be celebrated in Nailsworth.
Buildings of interest in and around the town will be opening their doors on Saturday, September 10th, giving the public a chance to see hidden places and treasures, each of the properties has its own story to tell.
All venues are free to enter, and refreshments will be available at some of the properties.
In 2019 Nailsworth Town Council coordinated a packed day of exceptional buildings and architectural treasures, with eleven Nailsworth gems opening to the public. This year, there will be twelve sites – with some fascinating new places to see, plus walks and talks through the day.
This year, as well as more familiar places such as the Town Hall and Quaker Meeting House, there are some fascinating private houses on view for the first time. For rail enthusiasts, Nailsworth’s former Railway Station will be open, with easy access from the cycle track. Holcombe House, near The Weighbridge, is planning a full family day of music, stalls and refreshments in aid of the Multiple System Atrophy Trust. The owner is offering a tour on ‘Reducing the carbon footprint of a Grade II Property’.
Nailsworth Mayor, Cllr Mike Kelly said: “I’m absolutely delighted that so many of our wonderful and historic buildings will be open to the public for this year’s Heritage Open Day and it seems likely that this year’s event will be even bigger and better than the previous event 3 years ago.
“The day gives a very rare opportunity to explore and wander around buildings which are usually either closed to the public or only partially open, and to
learn about their history, architecture and the people who have lived or worked in them, as well as discovering how they’ve adapted to new uses and how they’ve shaped the town to the present day.”
You can see the full programme for the day on Nailsworth Town Council’s website or pick up a leaflet from the TIC in the Library or the Civic Centre. The Mortimer Room will be open on the day with displays, maps and more information, plus a chance to see poems and pictures from Nailsworth
children about their town.
Properties will open between 10am till 4pm. Please check the programme for specific times to be sure not to miss out on your favourites – some sites aren’t open for the whole day. With free walks, talks and exhibitions, it is set to be a wonderful day out for all ages.
Walks and Talks
10am – A guided walking tour led by Rev Stuart Radford commencing at Woodchester Priory, passing Dunkirk Mill, Egypt Mill and the Old Railway Station to St George’s Church. Stuart will then lead the group on to the Quaker Meeting House, finishing the walk at Christ Church.
12noon – Mary Saunders will be guiding a walk from the Mortimer Room to The Nodes. To book, call 01453 833 592 or via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/3wnazeu6
2pm – Mike Harvey will lead a special Blue Plaque walk starting from outside the TIC/Library.
Duration a minimum of 2 hours. Limited to 12 people. To book, call 01453 833 592 or via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/3wnazeu6
7pm – Join Myles Robinson in the Mortimer Room for a talk based on his thesis about the town’s industrial heritage and history entitled “Hand-loom weavers in the Nailsworth Valleys” Limited to 40 people. To book, call 01453 833 592 or via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/3wnazeu6
Properties taking part: Christ Church, The Clock Tower, Holcombe House, Quaker Meeting House, Ruskin Mill, St George’s Church, Stokescroft, Three Storeys, The Nodes, The Old Railway Station, The Town Hall (Council
Chamber and Town Archives), The Junction Youth Club.
