Residents of Essex are being encouraged to explore history on their doorstep as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days, which take place between 8-17 September. Top visitor attractions will be opening for free to showcase the county’s unique cultural heritage.
Visit Essex, the county’s tourism body, has cherry picked some of the must-see free events held in historic gardens and iconic buildings across Essex. From backstage tours at top theatres, to behind the scenes guides in stunning gardens, all unlock doors to our local history.
Cllr Mark Durham, Chairman, Visit Essex, is keen to highlight the county’s intriguing heritage. He says: “The dramatic past of Essex will be brought to life with a series of exciting open events. These will take you back to other times and illustrate how the county has developed into the vibrant community it is today. Heritage Open Days have a wealth of activities to enjoy and to learn more about the amazing place in which we live”.
Across the county historic buildings will be showcasing many of the features and quirky stories that make them so special. Visit Colchester’s iconic castle and explore its interactive displays and view its impressive collection of Roman artefacts (open 9 September). Or head to Harwich and uncover the town’s rich maritime history. Take a stroll around Captain Jones’ House, the man who set sail on the Mayflower to take Pilgrim Fathers to America. Explore the house, which hasn’t changed, apart from electricity, since he left it in 1620 (open 16-17 September, between 11am-3pm). Also in Harwich, The Maritime Museum at the Low Lighthouse, will be open for fantastic views of the seafront, plus events for children (open 16-17 September, between 10am-4pm).
Hylands House in Chelmsford will be celebrating its long, rich history with a special ‘Events Through the Years’ exhibition. From hosting events in Victorian times to becoming the home of the V Festival, find out all the house’s secrets (open 17 September, between 10am-4pm). Chelmsford Museum will be staging a ‘War History Day’ with military vehicles, Essex Yeomanry artefacts and more (open 10 September, 10am-4pm).
The curtain on the county’s theatrical stages will be opening for unique experiences at the Chelmsford Theatre, Colchester’s Mercury Theatre and the Harlow Playhouse. Chelmsford Theatre will be hosting backstage tours looking at the history of the building (16 September, starting at 10am and 11.30am). The Mercury Theatre will be offering multiple tours to their rehearsal room, wardrobe, stage and workshops (17 September), whilst Harlow Playhouse will be revealing backstage secrets of their spectacular productions on (14-15 September, at various times).
The county’s landscapes will also be hosting open days. Step into a world of wonder just a short walk between a pub and a supermarket! Bobbitt’s Hole Nature Reserve in Dovercourt is situated behind the town’s Asda superstore yet offers a pretty natural area which features a boardwalk and a lake (open 17 September). For a more formal outdoor visit try Harlow’s Gibberd Garden. Set in nine acres, the garden was designed as a series of linked vistas, including a river, by the architect of Harlow, Frank Gibberd (open 10 September, between 2am-6pm).
The Essex Heritage Open Days run between 8-17 September 2023. Advance booking for the free events is required. To discover more, www.visitessex.com/whats-on/heritage-open-days Homepage | Heritage Open Days
