Check out our recommendations of places to visit for free as part of Heritage Open Days in September.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community led festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Every year in September it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community, and history, see hidden places and try out new experiences. This year the festival will be taking place between 8th and 17th September, and we’ve laid out some highlights you can visit for free.
Manchester Central Library | 13th September
Take advantage of this chance to see some of the wealth of material held at the Manchester Central Library!
The library and the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society will be showing off some of the extraordinary documents held at Manchester Central Library that documenting the history of this famous industrial city, including those which explore its Jewish heritage.
The collections include maps, newspapers, directories, Parliamentary Papers, sound recordings and documents of all kinds. Other aspects of the city’s varied history which will be explore include the First World War, the 1996 bomb, and the workhouse. Prebooking is essential.
To book contact secretary@landcas.org.uk
HOME | 16th September
HOME will throw open its doors with a series of free fun events and activities as part of Heritage Open Days. Throughout the day on 16th September the artistic venue will host a wide range of events which include talks, displays, tours, workshops, information sessions, and fun quizzes. There will also be a one-off special food and drink offering to explore on the day.
There will be both ticketed and non-ticketed events taking place, with the ticketed events being available to book prior tothe event on HOME’s website. Homemcr.org/event/home-open-day/
People’s History Museum | 16th September
Get in touch with Manchester’s textile heritage and get hands on with it!
While many of the banners in People’s History Museum’s (PHM) collection are made from silk, the most important material to working people was strong and warm wool, and the museum has multiple pieces on display made of wool, including Union & Victory banner (1889) currently on display in the
2023 Banner Exhibition.
PHM’s expert Conservation Team will show you where the specialist work to care for the museum’s collection takes place, before allowing you to get close up and creative using hands-on conservation techniques and a wet felting activity to explore the journey of wool, from the fleece of a sheep to the yarn used to knit and weave fabric.
Phm.org.uk
Museum of Transport | 9th to 17th September
The Museum of Transport is offering free access to its vast collection of exhibits between 9th and 17th September. The museum holds a collection of over 80 vehicles, mainly consisting of buses. However other highlights of the museum include a fire engine, prototype Metrolink tram, lorries, and ancillary vehicles, along with a substantial collection of smaller. This is a must-see for transport fans, petrol heads, and those who just like a good day out.
Motgm.uk