Heritage Open Days 10th - 12th September

Get ready for a journey of discovery in St.Helens as the Borough hosts a special weekend of FREE activities to celebrate its unique heritage. Historic buildings across St.Helens will again be opening their doors to the public during the annual national Heritage Open Days from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th September.

Heritage Open Days celebrate England’s fantastic architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to properties or free events that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Heritage Open Days are co-ordinated nationally by English Heritage and locally by St.Helens Council.

Highlights include:

St.Helens Town Hall

The St.Helens Town Hall will open its doors to the general public for free guided tours. The tour will include the Victorian-styled Mayor’s Parlour; the large Members’ Room, which is still used today by Councillors as a meeting place and office; the impressive and ornately panelled Council Chamber and the magnificent gothic Assembly Hall. In addition to the guided tours of the Town Hall, there will be a Vintage Car Rally and numerous exhibitions.

Town Centre Heritage Trail

St.Helens Guides will celebrate the Guides’ centenary year by launching their Town Centre Heritage Trail. The walking tours will be led by local girl guides, taking in the various historic buildings throughout the town centre.

Just Mackintosh

Just Mackintosh will be providing presentations on the life and works of the Scottish architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

The Citadel Arts Centre

The Citadel Arts Centre will present a theatrical promenade performance of ‘Citadel Down’t Pit’, a Heritage Lottery Funded Oral History Project delivered by Hands On @ the Citadel. This performance is a celebration of our mining heritage and depicts the social and emotional effects of the Great Miners’ Strike (1985) on the mining community of Sutton Manor.

St.Helens Theatre Royal

Come and enjoy a theatrical tour and hear the history of St.Helens Theatre Royal. You will be escorted around the beautiful auditorium, backstage and other interesting areas of the Theatre that are not open to the general public. You will also have the chance to view documents, plans and photographs of the Theatre, and listen to true stories and see proof of the ‘Theatre Ghosts!’.

The Smithy Heritage Centre

The Smithy Heritage Centre will step back in time and meet Stella and Mary, 1950s domestic goddesses who are preparing cocktails and canapes for a stylish soiree in their lounge. Music, costumes, original artefacts and handling objects bring the era to life.

On Sunday 12th September a free shuttle bus service will link St.Helens Town Centre with some of the venues open for Heritage Open Days. The bus service will depart from and return to the St.Helens World of Glass (outside the Cone entrance).

For further details please contact St.Helens Tourist Information Centre on 01744 755150.