What is Heritage Open Days?
Every September thousands of organisations and volunteers across England co-ordinate events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
National Heritage Open Days 2024 is from 6th to 15th September. They will be in villages, towns, and cities across England.
This year’s national theme is ‘Routes – Networks – Connections.’
We are delighted each year to join in this celebration and bring Wokingham’s rich history to life.
At Wokingham Town Hall – Saturday 14 September, 11am to 3pm
This September, we’re planning to celebrate this at the Town Hall by highlighting Wokingham’s many connections. We’ll be celebrating what connects us; our past and current connections which make Wokingham the place it is today.
Through displays and hands on activities for children, we’ll be looking at how Wokingham came to be, connections with industry, how the town has changed, how the Town Hall has changed in use over time, past travel connections and lots more.
The Wokingham Society will also be offering a guided walk through the town highlighting historical locations and stories associated with them. Please book your place in advance, to secure a place, via this link: www.ticketsource.co.uk/wokinghamtowncouncil
At Howard Palmer Gardens – Saturday 14 September, 11am to 3pm
There’ll be activities outside in Howard Palmer Gardens too.
Wokingham in Bloom will be celebrating their connection with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom to mark their 60th anniversary. Wokingham in Bloom volunteers and sponsors will be on hand to share what they get up to and help with all the children’s activities including seed planting, bird box making, bug mugs, butterfly feeders and pebble painting.
Partners taking part:
Baptist Church – Saturday 14 September, 11am to 3pm
The Baptist Church is celebrating 250 years in Wokingham with an exhibition on Saturday 14th September between 11am and 3pm. Displays will be around the building, along with activities for children and free tea and cake.
Find out more at https://www.wokinghambaptist.org.uk/869/Celebrating-250-years-of-history
All Saints Church – various dates and times
The Church is planning an exhibition to view an 1872 large scale map of Wokingham from Saturday 7th September to Sunday 15th September between 10am and 4pm.
It is also offering tours of the Church within this period on Mondays 10am-1pm, Tuesdays and Fridays 10am-12pm and Wednesdays 11am-1pm.
The café will be open 10am-12pm on the Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Find out more at https://www.allsaintswokingham.org.uk/heritage-week-7-15th-september-2024/
Wokingham Library – various dates and times
Wokingham Library is celebrating 100 years of public library services, this year, in Wokingham.
A display about the history of Wokingham Library will be available to view from Monday 2nd September for two weeks.
They are celebrating this huge milestone on Thursday 5 September, at the library, from 10am to 11.30am for a charity coffee morning, as they look back on a century of serving the community.
The event will be raising money for SHARE Wokingham, which redistributes food to those in need that would otherwise go to waste.
Find out more at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKWOKBC/bulletins/3ac59f8
Follow us on social media on the run up to the event and during September for some snippets of Wokingham’s creativity.
Facebook: @wokinghamtowncouncil
We would like to thank all the individuals, businesses, community groups and organisations for their valuable contributions who are all helping to bring this day together.
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any queries during business hours Monday to Friday:
E-mail: civic@wokingham-tc.gov.uk
Telephone: 0118 974 0882
Wokingham Town Hall: Market Place, Wokingham, RG40 1AS