By KLTV Newsdesk –
Local organisers have announced over 70 venues, talks and activities across Kirklees as part of the national Heritage Open Days Festival this September.
Running from the 9 – 18 September, 77 locations in total are featured as part of the event, in what the organisers say will provide an exciting choice of free activities for all ages, with a number focussing on this year’s national theme, ‘Astounding Inventions’.
Across Kirklees
Events will take place all across Kirklees, showcasing its unique industrial heritage through special presentations, including the story of Shoddy and Mungo in Dewsbury, woollen textiles in Huddersfield and a David Brown tour in Meltham.
Additionally, Cleckheaton’s industrial innovations in belts, card clothing and moulded plastic are revealed while children can become mini professors at Bagshaw Museum, Birstall, celebrating locally born scientist, Joseph Priestley.
Both Huddersfield and Dewsbury will offer a broad range of activities as part of the towns’ Heritage Action Zones funded by Historic England and Kirklees Council.
Local historical characters will be revealed in Dewsbury’s Bee Line Trail and, if you fancy drawing, bring your sketchbook and pencil for an urban sketching walk aimed at all levels of experience.
In Huddersfield the conservation and renovation work on the historic George Hotel will be revealed in an evening presentation, walks will explore the town’s Modernist architecture and Heritage Mile, and 20 costumed dancers will celebrate the Windrush Generation in St. George’s Square.
The Grade 1 listed station will also be offering special tours for the first time, highlighting the unique architecture that has endured across ages.
Historic Places of Worship
As always, the festival will include a varied range of the district’s historic churches, some coinciding with Yorkshire Churches Day on 10 September organised by Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust.
Dewsbury Minster, founded in 627AD, will reveal its Anglo-Saxon relics, tower tours and links with the Brontes.
As well as the key Anglican churches across the district, visitors can discover quirkier gems such as Holy Spirit Church, Heckmondwike, Our Lady of Unfailing Help and St. Paul Church, Cleckheaton, Quaker Meeting Houses at Wooldale and High Flatts, Providence Methodist Church, Golcar and an Arts and Crafts Baptist Church in Birkby, now the Vajrapani Kadampa Meditation Centre for Buddhists.
Unique Buildings
Historic and unique buildings include Lindley Clock Tower, the Arts and Crafts house, Briarcourt, Holmfirth’s Owd Towser, and Kirkburton’s energy-efficient Passivhaus, while garden lovers can explore the seven acres at Paddock Farm, Slaithwaite, discover ‘allotments, orchards, dikes and shrogs’ in Birkby and both Greenhead and Beaumont Parks in Huddersfield.
‘Amazing Choice’
Chair of Kirklees Heritage Open Days Committee, David Griffiths, said: “This year’s programme offers a most amazing choice for all age-groups and interests.
“It offers a unique opportunity to discover some of Kirklees’ finest locations, and, above all, it’s free for everyone.”
Although all venues and events are free, because of limited capacity, some have to be booked in advance. See the brochure below and check out the heritage open days website for details.
Details of all 77 events and the booking process can be found in the Kirklees Heritage Open Days brochure which is being distributed to information points and libraries across Kirklees.