Heritage Open Days are held each September in the UK and offer a chance to get up close to some of our best surviving heritage.

Here on Teesside we have a wealth of historic buildings, and places rarely open to the public.

Heritage Open Days is a great opportunity to see these places and learn more of our local history. You can find out more here: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/

Here’s a selection of the best of Heritage Open Days 2024 on Teesside:

Acle Saxons Re-enactment Camp Gisborough Priory

Acle’s Saxon village demonstrates life just before the founding of Gisborough Priory. Activities include Combat, including ‘kid’s combat’, Cooking, Coin Striking, Weaving, Spinning and Carding, Beekeeping and Beeswax crafts, as well as many others!

Open on 14 & 15 September.
Booking NOT required.
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/acle-saxons-re-enactment-camp-gisborough-priory.html

Darlington Library Tours

On various dates, guided tours of Darlington’s library on Crown Street will take place. The tour includes areas not usually open to the public.

Tours take place on 9, 10 and 11 September at 10am and 2pm (only 10am on 10th).

Booking REQUIRED
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/darlington-library.html

Ormesby Hall

You don’t need to wait for Heritage Open Days to visit this fantastic National Trust property on the outskirts of Middlesbrough. However, on dates during the open days, you can get into Ormesby Hall for free! If you’ve never been, this might be a good time to see what it’s like.

Booking NOT required.
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/ormesby-hall.html

St Hilda’s Church, Hartlepool

St Hilda’s Church stands on Hartlepool Headland, on or very near to the site of the monastery of which St Hilda was Abbess from 649 to 657. Come visit any afternoon from 6-15 September (except 9th & 10th) and enjoy;
• the creativity of the 12th Century builders of the church, working in the new Early English style of architecture;
• the ways in which, at various times in its existence, the building was altered to accommodate the worship styles (and other uses) of the times;
• the imaginative restoration in the early 20th century of parts of the building which had fallen into disrepair;
• the artistic contribution of the stained glass windows.

Booking NOT required.
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-hilda-s-church-hartlepool.html

6 September

A Voyage Around The World – a talk and walk
Linthorpe Cemetery, Middlesbrough

With Local Historian & Friend of Linthorpe Cemetery & Nature Reserve Ian Stubbs we will journey across the globe using the headstones of people resting in the cemetery. Japan to Russia, Germany to Africa the battlefields of two world wars & oceans.

Starts 10am
Booking NOT required.
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/a-voyage-around-the-world-a-talk-and-walk.html

7 September

Visit St Cuthbert’s Church, Darlington

St. Cuthbert’s Darlington, the Church in the Market Place is preparing to undergo a transformation, as we ‘Open Our Doors’, offering access for all to our architectural, historical and musical traditions.

Booking NOT required.
Open from 10am-4pm
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-cuthbert-s-church-darlington.html

8 September

St Andrew’s Church, Haughton le Skerne, Darlington

Discover the oldest church in Darlington, c1125, including interesting stonework and woodwork. Some Saxon relic stonework and extensive 17th century ‘Cosin’ woodwork throughout the church.

The church will be open between 1-4pm.

Booking NOT required
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/st-andrew-s-church-haughton-le-skerne-darlington.html

11 September

Skelton Local History Event

Members from various local history and archive groups including Skelton’s family history group & the Land of Iron mining museum will be coming into Skelton Library with various displays, computers for family history research and other information.

Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/local-history-event.html

14 September

Middlesbrough’s Masonic Hall

Come and have a tour of the Middlesbrough Masonic Hall, where the doors are opened to the public for free, as part of the  Heritage Open Days.

Booking NOT required.
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/masonic-hall-middlesbrough.html

15 September

Gisborough Priory Guided Tour
2-3.15pm

Find out about the founding of Gisborough Priory, its early development and how it became one of the richest Priories in the country. Discover the connections with King Robert de Brus and the role the Priory played in him becoming King of Scotland.

Booking NOT required.
Details: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/submission-event/gisborough-priory-guided-tour.html