Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. It's your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

A great chance to discover heritage on our doorstep in Basingstoke and Deane, we've found the following events taking place this week (Monday 9 to Sunday 15 September 2024).

Moon Roast Roastery Tour

The roastery tour will take you on a fascinating journey of coffee from farm to cup. Relaxed and informal with plenty of opportunity for questions, you will also experience cupping, the professional way of tasting coffee, learn what makes it speciality grade and how Moon Roast ethically source their beans.
Thursday 12 September
10.30am and midday
Pre-booking required.
Find out more at:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/moon-roast-roastery-tour.html

Rebuilding Bere Mill - challenges and rewards

Bere Mill is an ancient mill, found in Domesday. The 18th century buildings were destroyed by fire in 2018. The talk will concentrate on how the rebuilding was undertaken, placing the mill in its historic context. The renovation won national awards.
Thursday 12 September
2pm to 4pm
Pre-booking required.
Find out more at:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hampshire-history-trust/rebuilding-bere-mill-challenges-and-rewards/e-mborxr

Farleigh House, Farleigh Wallop

For centuries, royalty, adventurers, and the day’s most celebrated personalities have feasted at Farleigh. Visitors will be able to tour parts of the house viewing many works of art, furniture and silverware including portraits by Richard Livesay, George Stubbs, Sir James Thornhill, George Romney, Sir Francis Grant, Harry Hall, H B Chalon, John Hoskins, Sir Godfrey Kneller, Samuel Cooper, Sir Peter Lely, John Singer Sargent, G Beare.
Thursday 12 September and Friday 13 September
Tours at 10am and midday
Pre-booking required.
Find out more at:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/at-farleigh-house-farleigh-wallop.html

Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery - My Favourite Things

A series of guided tours around the museum by different team members to find out more about their favourite things, be they prehistoric pots, a 100 year-old wedding cake or a 1960s twin tub washing machine.
Friday 13 September and Saturday 14 September
Tours at 11am and 2pm
Pre-booking required.
Find out more at:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/willis-museum-sainsbury-gallery-my-favourite-things.html

The Vyne

Explore a former Tudor powerhouse turned 17th-century family home set in gardens, woodlands and wetlands. Visit the shop selling locally sourced goods and the cosy Brewhouse tearoom serving light refreshments and beverages.
Saturday 14 September
Grounds: 10am to 5pm (last entry at 4pm). House: 11am to 3pm
Pre-booking not required
Find out more at:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/the-vyne-1.html

Tour of St Mary's Old Basing and Lychpit

St Mary's Church, a Grade I listed building, will be open for visits and tours will also be available. The church has a fascinating history dating back to just after the Norman invasion. It was mostly rebuilt in the Medieval and Tudor period and there are some wonderful monuments to the Paulet family, later the Marquises of Winchester and Dukes of Bolton, who were very prominent in running England.
Saturday 14 September
10am to 4pm
Pre-booking preferred
Find out more at:
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/tour-of-st-mary-s-old-basing-and-lychpit.html

Historic walking tours at Silchester Roman City Walls & Amphitheatre

Silchester has its origins as Calleva, a centre of the Iron Age Atrebates tribe from the late 1st century BC. After the Roman conquest of AD 43 it became the large and important town of Calleva Atrebatum. Unlike most Roman towns, it was never reoccupied or built over after it was abandoned in the 6th or 7th century, so archaeological investigations have given an unusually complete picture of its development.
Sunday 15 September
10am and 2pm
Pre-booking not required
Find out more at:           
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/historic-walking-tours-at-silchester-roman-city-walls-amphitheatre.html

The history of Berry Bros. & Rudd: a talk and tasting

There is a waiting list for this event:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hampshire-history-trust/the-history-of-berry-bros-rudd-a-talk-and-tasting/e-gbbgqq

Looking to find out more about history and heritage locally, see the Love Basingstoke website for more inspiration.

September 2024