Every year in September Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s rich architecture history and culture. Thousands of buildings of every age, style and function open their doors free of charge.  Organised across the country by 100s of volunteers it is probably the only truly inclusive national event held in the UK. It crosses all faiths, nationalities, beliefs and cultures to give everybody an annual opportunity to show pride in their local area. In Cirencester we are proud to be a part of this nationwide event. Our programme includes many activities that bring to life the stories and traditions that make our community special. We live in a truly wonderful town in a beautiful part of the world and we hope that you will join us in celebrating  Cirencester. This year we ran a four day programme. This enabled us to include more venues, set up more guided walks, put on an excellent range of talks and broaden the range of activities and re-enactments.  We are delighted this year to be working in partnership with a number of local groups: Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, The Cotswold Voluntary Wardens , Gloucestershire Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB), Cirencester Ramblers, The Cotswold Canal Trust and The flying club at Aston Down. We are also delighted to have been able to join forces with local hotels The Fleece, The Corinium Hotel and Best Western Stratton  House Hotel to put on our ‘Tempting Talks & Tasty Teas’ events. We  worked with Cirencester Library and Gloucestershire Family History Society to put on a Local History Study Day. The Corn Hall  provided us with a free venue for our ‘Afternoon of Dance’.  Local shops once again took part in our ’Hare Trail’. This is fast becoming a popular annual ‘must-do’ for children. Several shops provided special activities for children and we ran a Gallery Trail to highlight Cirencester’s arts and crafts. Local music was celebrated in a number of ways, from Morris dancers to an organ recital. It has been hard work organising such a diverse programme, but there is a great sense of achievement when it all comes together. My thanks to all those who have helped, however great or small their contribution. Our sponsors and promoters enable the whole event to take place. Their involvement is crucial. Celebrate with us at what must surely now be called a Festival! Florence Beetlestone Heritage Open Days Co-ordinator   What was on When? Click each link to go to the detailed description. Use your back button to return to this page Wednesday 7th September 2011 3 - 5pm Talk and Tea: Stephen Blake:Saints and Serpents; Stratton House Thursday 8th September 9.30 Walk: Hare Bushes to Baunton 10am-4pm Watermoor church open 10am-5pm Northleach Discovery Centre open 10.30 Walk: Cirencester Canal Arm 1pm-5pm New Brewery Arts: Exhibitions open 2pm Walk: Town Heritage walk 3pm Talk and Tea: Tim Porter, Medieval Hospitals, Corinium Hotel 7.30pm CAHS Sponsored Talk: Hector Cole: Archaeological Ironworking Friday 9th September 9.30am-12.30pm Unitarian Chapel (Parish Rooms) open 10am Guided Tour: Parish Church 10am-3pm Tours: Church Porch 10am-5pm New Brewery Arts: Exhibitions open 10am - 5pm Bingham Library: Local History Day 11am Talk: Family History for Beginners 10am-5pm Northleach Discovery Centre open 1pm-2.30pm Chesterton School old fashioned sports day 1.10pm Organ Recital: Parish Church 2pm Walk: Town Heritage Walk 2pm-4pm The Querns garden open 2.30pm Guided Tour: Parish Church 2.30pm Walk: Heritage Tree walk 6.30pm Bat Walk: Amphitheatre Saturday 10th September 9.30-11.30 Royal Oak Gloucester Street open All morning Farmers Market: Market Place All day FREE entry to Corinium Museum Park Street. NB Museum open all other days at normal charges. 10am Walk: Heritage Tree Walk 10am Guided Tour: Parish Church 10am-3pm Tours: Church Porch 10am-4pm Parish Church Tower open 10am-4pm Bingham Gallery Exhibition open 10am-4pm Baptist Church exhibition open 10am-4.30pm Air Raid Shelter/Memorial Hospital war exhibitions open 10am-5pm Friends Meeting House Thomas Street open 10am-5pm Salvation Army Thomas Street open 10am-5pm New Brewery Arts Exhibitions open 10am-5pm Northleach Discovery Centre open 10.30, 12.30, 2.30 Guided tours: W and G Standard Offices, Dyer Street 10.30 Walk: Watermoor and City Bank 11am Tour: Open air Pool, Riverside Walk, Thomas St 11am-4pm Cirencester Primary School exhibition 11am-1pm Morris dancing Market Square 11am-3pm Laundry Cottages Park Lane open 11am-4pm Re-enactment Norman Arch Abbey Grounds 11am-4pm Woolgatherers Coxwell Street open 11.15-1pm Re-enactment Cirencester Lockup, Trinity Road 12, 2.30, 3.30 Guided tours Barracks Cecily Hill 1.30pm Tour Open Air Pool Riverside Walk, Thomas St 1.30-3.30 Re-enactment Victorian Workhouse & Lockup, Trinity Road 2pm-4.30 Fayre Watermoor Parish Fayre 2pm-4pm Music Cirencester Band, Market Place 2pm-4pm Beekeeping Royal Agricultural College 2pm-4pm Unitarian Chapel (Parish Rooms) open 2pm-4pm Tea and Talk Barracks: Archaeology Students projects 2.30pm Walk World War Walk 2.30 Guided Tour Parish Church 2.30pm-4.30pm Old Railway station Sheep Street interpretation 3pm Walk Town Heritage walk Sunday 11th September 9.30 Ramble Canal Walk - South Cerney to Cerney Wick 10.30 Walk Watermoor and City Bank 11am Guided tour College Farm buildings 11am Walk Volunteer wardens walk to Baunton 11am Guided Tour Hidden Gardens 11am-4pm Norman Arch Abbey Grounds 11am-4pm Northleach Discovery Centre open 11.30, 12.15 Guided tour Kings Head, Market Place 12-4pm Walks Cotswold Canals - Tunnel House, Coates 12-3pm Tours Fleece Hotel (Charles 1st) 1.30-5pm Dance/music Corn Hall - Afternoon of Dance 2pm Guided Tour College Farm Buildings 2pm Guided Tour Hidden Gardens 2pm-4pm Friends Meeting House, Thomas street open 2pm-4.3pm Salvation Army Thomas Street open 2pm-4.30pm Exhibition Lloyd Baker Collection Northleach open 2.30-4.30 Music JJ Swing Band, Abbey Grounds bandstand 3pm Tea and Talk Flight of the King, Fleece Hotel 3pm Walk WW2 sites 4.30pm Walk Harnhill Farm 6pm Music Songs of Praise, Salvation Army, Thomas Street 6pm Tour Aston Down Airfield 7.30pm Talk Aston Down War Defences: Diana Wall Page updated 8 Sept 2pm We now understand that there will be no  Heritage Open Days in 2012 in Cirencester,  due to The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and  possibly Olympic activities taking up  organisational time. Elsewhere, they will take  place 6-9 September 2012. We hope they will  reappear in Cirencester in 2013