East Suffolk Council
Bringing East Suffolk’s history to life
East Suffolk residents are being given the chance to explore the heritage of the district like never before.
England’s largest free festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days, is returning from Friday 12 September to Sunday 21 September.
This year’s festival is themed around architecture, with many events focusing on the iconic buildings in their towns.
Several events are being hosted across the district and, earlier this year, East Suffolk Council offered support to local events with grants of up to £500. The grant aimed to encourage local participation of voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise organisations.
Ten local organisations were selected to receive the grants:
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Woodbridge Town Council: Shire Hall 450thAnniversary
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Halesworth Museum: promotion and coordination of a number of events in Halesworth
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RSPB Minsmere: Operation Zebra – How Minsmere Nature Reserve was built
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Lowestoft Town Council: Heritage Skills Market
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Blythburgh Station: Open Day and Model Railway Show
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Bungay, Beccles and Halesworth Town Councils (joint application): the design and print of a joint brochure to promote events in all three towns
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The Long Shop Museum: The Steam Engine that turned into a Cathedral
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Marina Theatre (hosted at the Battery of Ideas): Look through the theatre’s historical archives
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Walpole Old Chapel: See one of Suffolk’s rarest examples of nonconformist architecture
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St Benet’s Minster: Tours, displays and family activities
East Suffolk Council is also hosting an event at Martello Tower P in Felixstowe. Several tours of the tower are on offer, giving visitors a rare opportunity to see inside the historic coastal defence tower.
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, cabinet member with responsibility for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:
“We are very pleased to support this year’s Heritage Open Days festival, and hope that residents enjoy these events.
“By spotlighting the people, places and traditions that have shaped our district, we hope to keep our heritage alive and pass it on to the next generation. Culture is an important part of a town’s identity, and East Suffolk is full of hidden stories ready to be uncovered this September.”
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing and Projects Manager, said:
“Heritage Open Days is all about uncovering the stories that make different local areas unique, and East Suffolk has so much to offer.
“From iconic buildings to hidden gems, this year’s architecture theme gives people a chance to explore the places they pass every day in a whole new light. It’s fantastic to see so many local organisations getting involved, their creativity and passion are what make the festival so special.”
Some events may require pre-booking. To find out more, including dates and times for each event, visit the Heritage Open Days website and search for each event.
Alternatively, you can find out more about events in East Suffolk via our website.