Historic buildings, museums and community venues will welcome visitors this September as part of Heritage Open Days, with a programme of free openings and special events across Thetford.
St Andrew’s Church Flower Festival
St Andrew’s Church in Kilverstone will hold its annual Flower Festival from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September.
The round-tower church dates from the 11th century and was restored in 1906 at a cost of £2,500. Visitors can see its carved oak pulpit, black and grey marble floor, carved angels, stained-glass windows and memorials telling the story of the church and village. Booking is not required.
Ancient House Museum
Ancient House will open for free as part of Heritage Open Days on Saturday 12th and Sunday 20th September.
Visitors can explore the displays, handle historical artefacts, meet costumed characters and follow family trails. There is no need to book.
Victorian Reading Evening
On Friday 18th September, the Riversdale Centre in Tanner Street will host a Victorian Reading Evening from 7pm.
Readings will range from well-loved classics to new pieces inspired by the era, presented within the Victorian house and gardens. Food and drinks will be available during the 90-minute event.
Places are limited to 30 and advance booking is preferred through the TicketSource link on the event listing.
St Mary’s Catholic Church
St Mary’s Catholic Church, Newtown, will celebrate its 200th anniversary by opening from 11am to 5pm on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th September.
Built in 1826, before Catholic emancipation, it is the oldest remaining free-standing Catholic church in East Anglia. Visitors can explore the church and gardens, view displays and join talks and guided tours. Refreshments will be available and no booking is required.
Thetford Open Studios
Thetford Open Studios returns from Wednesday 16th to Sunday 20th September, from 11am to 5pm each day, in its new and larger home at Thetford Methodist Hall.
The event offers much more than an opportunity to see finished work. Visitors can meet the people who make it, discover the skills behind their work, watch creativity happening and perhaps try something for themselves.
Demonstrations across the five days will include spinning, textile and linocut printing, ceramics, copper jewellery, green-wood carving, willow weaving, coiled basket making and painting. Visitors will be able to talk to the makers and artists about the stories and techniques behind their work.
The hall will also be filled with locally made work, much of it available to buy. Emily Chapman’s original paintings A Walk with Dave and Everything Thetford will be on display, and Emily hopes to paint during the event.
Different makers and demonstrations will appear throughout the five days, so no two days will be quite the same. The event is free to enter and fully accessible. Visit leapinghare.org for the latest timetable.
Heritage Festival
A free Heritage Festival will take place in the marketplace from 10.30am to 3pm on Sunday 20th September.
Stalls will include local museums and organisations, including the Brecks Landscape Partnership, RAF Heritage Centre Honington and Norfolk Fire Museum. Short talks will also take place inside the Guildhall’s Large Court.
The Dad’s Army Museum, Charles Burrell Museum and Ancient House Museum will open specially on the Sunday, giving visitors an opportunity to explore Thetford’s wartime, industrial and domestic history.
The marketplace festival is free, suitable for all ages and does not require booking.
Visit heritageopendays.org.uk for full details of participating venues.
