Experience Lancashire's historic sites for free in heritage celebration
A range of tours will bring Lancashire's historical sites to new audiences as libraries, archives, castles and museums will open to the public for a weekend of free events.
Lancashire residents have a chance to join in free activities and enjoy free admission in September as part of the annual Heritage Open Days Festival.
Many districts have arranged a programme of events and Lancashire County Council's Cultural Services will be taking part. This year's theme is 'behind the scenes'.
Councillor Peter Buckley, cabinet member for Community and Cultural Services, said: "We are delighted to join another national celebration of our country's great heritage.
"We encourage all residents to take advantage of the opportunities for education and cultural enrichment that the County Council offers."
Residents can find a full list, as well as booking details, of Lancashire's Heritage Open Days events here: https://events.apps.lancashire.gov.uk/w/webpage/upcoming-events?q=Hods&matchOn=any.
Lancaster – Saturday 9 and 10 September
The regular free guided tours at Lancaster Castle will be free on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September and run from 10am to 4pm. They are on a first-come-first-served basis and tours visit the main courtyard, C Wing, Chapel Yard, A Wing, The Old Cells, Hadrian's Tower, The Shire Hall, Crown Court and The Drop Room.
Judges' Lodgings Museum will also be free admission on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September, 11am to 4pm. You can see the Black Lancastrians portrait exhibition, the newly opened Gillows of Lancaster Gallery and the popular Museum of Childhood. The Friends of Judges' Lodgings pop up tearoom will also be open 12pm to 3pm on Saturday. There are bookable guided tours for a look behind the scenes.
Helmshore – Saturday 9 and 10 September
Entry to Helmshore Mills will be free on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September. As well as being able to look around the mills there will also be exhibitions from Helmshore Local History Society in the museum hub. This includes their photography exhibition, showing how the villages of Helmshore and Haslingden have changed through the years. You can also find out about researching local family history with Haslingden Roots organisation, plus Haslingden Old and New, the Helmshore Branch of the Royal British Legion and a model of Haslingden Railway Station.
Burnley – Saturday 9 September
Queen Street Mill will be joining other heritage sites in the district with free admission on Saturday 9 September, 12pm to 4pm. You can travel back to the early 1900s and experience what life was like for mill workers in this unique weaving mill.
With authentically dressed and expert staff on hand, watch weaving demonstrations on original looms that are over 120 years old. Meet our engine and machinery technicians and learn about the innovations of weaving from hand weaving to powered looms!
Normally by guided tour only, this Heritage Open Day they're offering the opportunity to explore the mill free of charge and at your own pace, as the workers would have in years gone by.
Padiham – Saturday 9 September
Gawthorpe Hall will be open for free on Saturday 9 September. Explore the fabulous historic rooms, discover the story of the Shuttleworth family home, and some of the people who lived here in the Remarkable Women exhibition. See the Patchwork of Life quilts, marking 50 years of the Friends of Gawthorpe.
The Victorian kitchen is also open all afternoon, have a go at polishing the cutlery or write out a dinner menu with a feather pen. You can take a ride on the vintage Leyland bus in to Padiham and back again! Also enjoy a hot drink from Coffee Vintage van.
Preston – Saturday 9 September
Lancashire Archives in Preston looks after 900 years of Lancashire's written heritage. On Saturday 9 September there will be tours of the new exhibition, Shaping the Future: Women's Lives in Lancashire, 1950-1980, as well as a tour behind the scenes giving a chance to see some of their treasures. There will also be creative workshops and art inspired by the exhibition.
Clitheroe – Sunday 10 September
Clitheroe Castle Museum will offer free admission on 10 September, 11am to 4pm. Explore the museum galleries about Clitheroe's fascinating history and see the On Track exhibition and Lancashire Stories Pop-up Art Exhibition.
Young museum explorers can also get creative at our pottery workshops at Clitheroe Castle Museum. They will learn about Medieval tiles and make their very own clay tile to take home. The workshops are free and will take place in the Bowland Room at Clitheroe Castle on Sunday at 11am to 12pm and 2pm to 3pm. Suitable for children aged 8+. Booking is essential.
Lancaster – Wednesday 13 September
Explore the story of Lancaster's historic library with this free behind the scenes guided tour from 5pm to 6.30pm. The tour will take you through the history of the fight for the library in Lancaster and of the buildings that make up the library today. They will also be offering a glimpse of the rare items in the local history collections on the Saturday 16th September, 2pm to 4pm.
Clitheroe – Sunday 16 September
Clitheroe Library is also offering a look behind the scenes with a special guided tour at 11am on Sunday 16 September. Revealing the fascinating and surprising stories behind some of the art on display throughout Clitheroe Library. With textiles, drawings, paintings, sculptures and stained glass, there's art hidden in plain sight all over the library.