Town set for heritage open days

St Thomas, Newhey, is one of 22 places taking part in Heritage Open Days 2009.

Rochdale is ready for Heritage Open Days 2009, Britain’s biggest and most diverse celebration of architecture, history and culture.

More than 20 places across Rochdale are opening their doors for free as part of Heritage Open Days which takes place between 10 and 13 September.

Heritage Open Days offers something for everyone and this year for the first time is being run by English Heritage who stepped in to rescue it when the previous organisers, the Civic Trust, went into administration earlier this year.

One of the highlights for Rochdale is the inclusion of St Thomas's Church on Church Street, off Huddersfield Road, in Newhey, which has been extensively rebuilt and restored following a devastating £2.5 million arson attack in December 2007.

The Church sits proudly on a hill overlooking the Pennine village of Newhey. A replica of Holy Trinity Church in Weston-Super-Mare, it has an outstanding pulpit and font carvings and is open from Thursday to Sunday.

Other places taking part in Heritage Open Days are All Saints' Church, Golden Mosque, Greater Manchester Fire Museum, Neeli Mosque & Islamic Centre, Parish Church of St Luke, Rochdale Arts and Heritage Resource Centre, Rochdale Parish Church of St Chad, Rochdale Pioneers Museum, Rochdale Town Hall, St Aidan's Church, St Andrew's Church of England in Dearnley, St Clement's Church, St Martin's Church, St Mary's in the Baum Church, Three Owls Bird Sanctuary and Reserve and Touchstones.

Broadfield Park, Healey Dell, Hare Hill Park, Hollingworth Lake and Queens Park will all be hosting guided heritage trails.

Full details, including opening times, can be accessed via the Rochdale Online events diary. 

Patrick Burke, English Heritage Outreach Manager, said: "Heritage Open Days is the free event that really does have something for everyone. Whether your passion is for industrial heritage or architectural splendour, natural habitats or the region at play, you'll find that there really is something for everyone and it won't cost you a penny. Get out and about over Heritage Open Days, make a weekend of it and find out what's really on your doorstep."

Baroness Andrews, OBE, Chairman of English Heritage, said: “Heritage Open Days are thrilling. They are an opportunity to explore places which, however familiar, are normally closed and therefore mysterious.

“They provide a chance not only to discover secret history, but to meet the people who live or work there, and are passionate about their subject."