Each September some 40,000 volunteers across England organise 5,000 events to celebrate our fantastic history, architecture and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are free to explore.
This weekend Northamptonshire will bustle with activities, events and celebrations of the Heritage Open Day. A host of town halls, churches and castles will be opening their doors for guided walks and tours, festivals and fetes.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the events going on in Northamptonshire, particularly those within a short journey from Oakley Vale and Corby.
Southwick Hall – Sunday 11th September
Southwick Hall with its towers and finials lies in a valley below Rockingham Forest and dates from medieval times. There are refreshments and grounds to walk in. Dogs welcome in the grounds on leads.
St Edmunds Church and Montagu Monuments – 8th/9th/10th September
See the monuments on all three mornings. On Saturday afternoon there will be a spoken word event where local people will read poems and prose they have written inspired by the monuments. On Saturday there will be a special free shuttle service running from Kettering Library to the church.
Rothwell Market House & Town Tour – 10th/11th September
The Market House is one of the unique buildings built by Sir Thomas Tresham of nearby Rushton Hall. Take a tour of the house and town across the weekend.
Canons Ashby Harvest Festival – Saturday 10th September
Explore Canons Ashby as we celebrate this joyful time of year in style. See the house transformed to reflect its Victorian heyday with harvest decoration and rural skills throughout.
Friends of Northampton Castle Tour – 8th/9th/10th/11th September
Guided walking tour of Castle Mound and associated sites with the option to continue walking through Spring Boroughs past St. Andrews Priory (site of) and on to Holy Sepulchre Church.
You can find a full list of events going on in Northamptonshire at the Heritage Open Days website or keep up to date via the Twitter page.
Enjoy your excursions this weekend – don’t forget to share any photos with the Oakley Vale website on our Facebook and Twitter.
