Many of our cathedrals are opening their doors to take part in the biggest Heritage Open Days event so far to mark its 25th anniversary.
Thousands of cathedral volunteers will be inviting visitors to discover something new over the next ten days. The theme is “People Power” in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre, and this year Heritage Open Days will run over two weekends this year from 13 -22 September.
Many cathedrals are offering free guided tours, bellringing, discovery trails, architecture tours, and arts and crafts activities.
In Birmingham, there are flower displays celebrating 150 years of their Cathedral choir as well as guided architecture tours.
In Blackburn there are guided tours of the building, bell tower viewings, open choir rehearsals, needleworking and flower arranging demonstrations and lots of family activities as well as a chance to see modern sculptures in the gardens.
As well as the usual tours, quizzes trails and activities, Bradford Cathedral is highlighting some of the local people and groups that tell the city’s and the cathedral’s story including the Bradford Rabble and their role in the English Civil War and bellringer, Joe Hardcastle who spent sixty years as a cathedral bellringer and kept a journal spanning 44 years!
You can try your hand at bellringing at Carlisle Cathedral, too with a free drop in for families to have a go and Chester has a variety of events to celebrate its architecture and culture including a Monuments and Memorials tour and a stonemasonry demonstration.
Heritage Open Days – Friday 13 September – Sunday 22 September.
