Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days is rapidly approaching again – this year it’s from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 September. Preparations are in full swing and the programme in and around Tunbridge Wells will feature plenty of new events and venues.
The delightful Walled Nursery at Hawkhurst is one of the top five Victorian glass complexes in England. They will be offering a talk about the history of the nursery and the major restoration project in progress. Burrswood in Groombridge was designed by Decimus Burton and is set in spacious parklands. Visitors are welcome to explore the house and grounds and to enjoy a talk about the history of the Burrswood Hospital.
A number of the guided walks are new too. In Five Oak Green local author Deborah Cole will be leading a short “taster” walk in the footsteps of medieval knights, following the course of the perambulation in 1279 by medieval knights round the domain of Tonbridge Castle. In Tunbridge Wells a guided walk will look at the history of a selection of the buildings which have received conservation awards from the town’s Civic Society.
The popular behind the scenes tour at the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, now Wetherspoons, returns again this year. Your guide will lead you past the No Entry signs to climb up to the Circle. Or near Penshurst you can clamber downwards – a vertical ladder leads to the underground Royal Observer Corps cold war monitoring post. If you enjoyed Michael Taylor’s fascinating article on the Royal Observation Corps in last month’s Town Crier this is a must for you.
Traditional crafts are represented by Michael Hart, blacksmith, who will be demonstrating his award winning skills with ornamental ironwork at his new premises in Horsmonden.
Many venues will have exhibitions commemorating the centenary of the First World War and its impact on local communities. These include St Paul’s Rusthall, St Barnabas and St James churches in Tunbridge Wells, and the Walled Nursery.
The Heritage Open Days website www.heritageopendays.org.uk is up and running. Just click onto the “what’s on your doorstep” logo and browse events close to nearby towns, such as Cranbrook, Paddock Wood, Southborough and High Brooms, and Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. The majority of walks and venues require no pre booking. But please look out for booking arrangements where these are required as these will vary from venue to venue.
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