Heritage Events & Exhibitions: Open Doors

September 2012 OPEN DOORS

www.opendoorsdays.org.uk
029 2034333

Open Doors days take place throughout September and offer the public free access to places and buildings of historic and architectural interest. Buildings which are normally free to visit offer something special.

As you would expect historic Wrexham will be taking part. Wrexham Museum, Minera Lead Mines as well as many of the Wales’s heritage attractions, community groups and individuals are planning special events.

Open Doors events

Open Doors events

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Open Doors events - PDF version 277Kb

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History of Bangor-on-Dee Racecourse

Wednesday 5th September 2012, 10am & 1pm

A fascinating opportunity to find out about the history and heritage of Bangor-on-Dee Races. Hear the stories, view the exhibition celebrating 153 years of racing at Bangor-on-Dee; and have a sneak peek inside buildings not normally open to the public.

Guided tours start at 10 am and 1pm and last approx 1hr. Call Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives on 01978 297460 to book.

Venue: Bangor on Dee Races
Pre-booking: Yes
www.bangorondeeraces.co.uk

Caer Alyn at Home

Saturday 8th September 2012, 11am – 4pm

Caer Alyn at Home is an opportunity for local people and visitors to the area to look at the work of a community heritage volunteer project. During the day the visitors will be able to talk to, and ask questions of the archaeologists and the volunteers about their work, tour the site and visit the Iron Age settlement. The event is designed to engage the visitor in the history of their own backyard.

Venue: Pont y Capel Fields (off the New Wrexham Road, Llay).
Pre-booking: No
Contact: 07947 768446 for further information www.caeralyn.org

Chirk Castle Heritage Open Day

Saturday 8th September 2012, 10am to 5pm

Free entry to Chirk Castle and gardens. Meet the medieval guards and explore the Adam tower and dungeons. See the beautifully furnished state rooms, take time to wander the award winning gardens and browse the shops at Home Farm.

Venue: National Trust, Chirk Castle, Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5AF
Pre-booking: No
Contact: 01691 777701 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

St Mary's Church

Saturday 8th September 2012, 1pm to 5pm

St Mary's Church is grade 1 listed and built on 11-12th century foundations which have been extended over centuries under the patronage of the Williams Wynn family of Wynnstay" The church and contents are of local and national importance, housing what is probably the finest medieval wall painting in the UK. The Church registers (births, deaths and marriages) right back to the sixteenth century will be available for viewing between 1-5pm.

Venue: St Mary's Church, Church Street Ruabon, Wrexham LL14 6LF
Pre-booking: No
Contact: www.stmarysruabon.org.uk

Brynkinalt Hall

Tuesday 11th September 2012, 10am–12.30pm and 2–4.30pm

Brynkinalt Hall is the private family home of the Trevor family and was built in 1612. The tour will cover the formal rooms of the house and the history of the family. There will also be a tour of the formal West garden and ornamental shrubbery (weather dependent).

Venue: Brynkinalt Hall, Chirk, Wrexham, LL14 5NS
Pre-booking: Yes
Contact: 01691 773425 www.brynkinalt.co.uk

History and Tour of Erlas Victorian Walled Gardens

Saturday 15th September 2012,10 am – 12 noon

Over the past 10 years, the Walled Garden at Erlas has been transformed from a forgotten and neglected area of land to a productive and therapeutic garden, through the activities of members of the community with disabilities. The Directors and friends of the Charity which have enabled this transformation to take place will talk about the history of Erlas, with photographs of the gardens in their heyday, followed by a tour of the gardens and the surrounding area. Light refreshments will be available.

Venue: Erlas Victorian Walled Garden, Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham, LL13 9TY
Pre-booking: Yes
Contact: Call Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives on 01978 297460 to book. www.erlas.org

Celebrating the Stiwt – 1950s Style

Friday 14th September 2012, 10am-4pm (Schools Bookings Only)
Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th September 2012, 10am-4pm (General public)

Our flagship Jubilee Year event is a celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Traditional 1950s events include: Arts and Crafts, Crown making competition; 1950s exhibition of the area; 1950s Food and Craft Fair; a daily Tea Dance and countless other activities for all the family to enjoy including tours of the venue. Admission to the exhibition is free. Charges apply for refreshments, fun stalls and special events. Please see website for details.

Venue: Theatr Stiwt, Broad Street, Rhos, Wrexham LL14 1RB
Pre-booking: Friday (School groups): Yes; Saturday & Sunday (General public): No
Contact: 01978 841300 or boxoffice@stiwt.co.ukwww.stiwt.co.uk

Bersham Colliery

Sunday September 16th 2012, 10.00am-4.00pm

The ex Bersham Colliery site has the No 2 Shaft Winding Engine House complete with engine & Headgear still intact. There are a number of other buildings still standing including the Pit head baths, Canteen, Workshops, Lamp room & Spoil tip There will be a number of ex miners at the Open Doors event who will talk to the public about the Colliery & artefacts that are to be seen Inside one of the buildings there will be an exhibition of small mine related artefacts & memorabilia as well as a number of photographs, pictures & Mine Art. There will also be a showing of DVD's.

Venue: Bersham Colliery. Bersham Enterpris Park, Rhostyllen, Wrexham LL14 4EG
Pre-booking: No
Contact: 01978 347458. northwalesminers.com

Tour of Iscoyd Park House & Gardens (a historic property in private ownership)

Tuesday 18 September 2012, 10.30am and 2.30pm

A rare chance to explore this 18th Century redbrick classical Georgian House (Grad II*) set in parkland extensive outbuildings converted for a variety of uses. The tour will focus on the architectural and social history and the family, and will be conducted by one of the family owners.

Venue: Iscoyd Park, Whitchurch, SY13 3AT
Pre-booking: Yes
Contact: Call Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives on 01978 297460 to book. www.iscoydpark.com

Wrexham's new treasure houses: Education in Wrexham in the nineteenth century

Thursday 20th September 2012, 7 -8.30pm

This is the 2012 Annual public lecture, by Gareth Williams, formerly Senior Lecturer in History, Glyndwr University.

Venue: Room B26, Glyndwr University, Mold Rd, Wrexham, Wales, LL11 2AW
Pre-booking: No
Contact: Nick Roe on 01978 293247 for further information www.glyndwr.ac.uk

Minera Lead Mines – Open Weekend

Saturday 22nd - Sunday 23rd September 2012, Open: 10am – 3pm

Discover the story of the lead miners of Minera, the village named after the valuable ore found beneath. Try your hand at panning for 'lead' and enjoy the great views from the Engine House. Guided tour of the archaeological remains: 11am each day.

Venue: Minera Lead Mines, Minera, near Coedpoeth.
Pre-booking: No
Contact: Call Wrexham County Borough Museum & Archives on 01978 297460 for further information www.wrexham.gov.uk/heritage

The Repair and Renovation of Historic Buildings

Tuesday 18h September 2012, Open: 6pm to 8pm

The talk will involve an explanation of the recent repair and renovation works undertaken to Church House, a grade II listed building in the historic settlement of Gresford, allowing guests to view the completed scheme on site. In addition the Conservation Team at Wrexham Council will explain and discuss the importance of employing the appropriate materials and methods when repairing or altering historic buildings to ensure that both the performance and historic integrity of the building is preserved using Church House as an example.

Venue: Church House, Gresford, Wrexham.
Pre-booking: Yes
Contact: 01978 292530/ 292531 for further information. Call Wrexham Museum & Archives on 01978 297460 to book. www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/planning_portal/plan_environment/conservation.htm | www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk

Open Church Network

Churches participating in the Open Church Network project will be open during the 'Heritage Weekends' in September, and hope to host displays and exhibitions with refreshments available in some churches.

The churches involved are: All Saints Gresford; Christ Church Rossett; St John the Baptist Bettisfield; St Marys Cathedral Wrexham; St Giles Wrexham; St Mary Chirk; Holy Trinity Bronington; St Chad Hanmer; St Mary Magdalene Penley; St Mary Minera; St Hilary Erbistock; St Dunawd Bangor on Dee; St Chad Holt; St Mary the Virgin Overton; St Deiniol Worthenbury; St Marcella Marchwiel www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk

Sacred Space

Churchyards participating in the 'Sacred Space' project will be open during the 'Heritage Weekends' in September.

These are: All Saints Gresford; Christ Church Rossett; St John the Baptist Bettisfield; St Mary Chirk; Holy Trinity Bronington; St Chad Hanmer; St Paul Isycoed; St Mary Magdalene Penley; St Mary Minera; St Hilary Erbistock www.sacred-space.org.uk

FREE ENTRY. MYNEDIAD YN RGAD AC AM DDIM
Wale's biggest celebration of architecture and heritage
dathliad pensaerniaeth a threftadaeth fwyaf Cymru

Organised by the Civic Trust for Wales on behalf of Cadw and the Welsh Government
Trefnwyd gan Ymddiriedolaeth Ddineesig Cymru ar ran Cadw a Llwodraeth Cymru
A Council of Europe Initiative / Menter Cyngor Ewrop
The Civic Trust Wales is a registered charity/ Mae Ymddiriedolaeth Ddinesig Cymru yn elusen cofrestredig

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