Bromsgrove residents are invited to be a part of England’s largest festival of history and culture and discover heritage on their doorstep this September.

Bromsgrove, as part of the North East Worcestershire (NEW) Cultural Compact, will be joining forces with neighbouring localities to share their history and culture for free, as part of the annual Heritage Open Days.

Organisations across Bromsgrove will be taking part throughout September, including:

On Saturday 9th of September members of The Villeins, a local acapella group, will be touring churches in Bromsgrove to give 30-minute performances celebrating vocal heritage. From 16th century Fa-la-las to modern arrangements of Beatles classics there’s something for all music lovers to enjoy.

The Villeins will be performing in the following order:

• 10am: St Mark’s Church, Fairfield
• 11am: Christ Church, Catshill
• 12pm: St Mary’s Church, Dodford
• 1pm: All Saints Church, Bromsgrove
• 3pm: St Godwald’s Church, Aston Fields

The performances are free to watch and many of the sites have other things happening all day.

If public art is more your thing, visitors can see the new Bromsgrove Galloper installation at the Recreation Ground in Bromsgrove Town Centre on September 15th from 1.30pm to 3pm. There will be a chance to talk to the artists themselves as well as a local historian explaining the fascinating history of the site.

A number of guided walks are also planned across the festival. On the 9th and 10th of September head to Tardebigge Locks where local guides will be on hand to walk visitors through the history of the Tardebigge section of the Worcestershire and Birmingham Canal, explaining its importance from experimental lifts to quarries and the age of steam.

On the 13th of September local historians Pat Tansell and Jenny Townshend will be revealing the history of the buildings along New Road in Bromsgrove, an event which has already proven so popular there is a waiting list being put together for an extra date. For anyone interested in the history of local people, on the 17th of September there is also the chance to explore Bromsgrove’s Old Cemetery and hear the stories of those who are laid to rest there.

Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Cultural Services, Cllr Steven Colella, said: “Whether you prefer a leisurely walk or some theatrical entertainment with a dose of culture, there is something for everyone and we welcome people from near and far to explore and enjoy the heritage which is so special to us. We have history in abundance locally and the open days mean it’s completely free for everyone to enjoy, on their doorstep.”

Local Historian and member of the Cultural Compact, Pat Tansell, said: “Please come along and enjoy the Heritage Open Days. You’ll be supporting organisations and passionate volunteers up and down the country who are working hard to share their interests and make the events happen. They provide the opportunity to see hidden places and learn about the history, architecture, and culture of your area.”

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest community-led festival of history and culture and is supported by the National Trust and made possible because of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Events are run by thousands of volunteers and charitable organisations. This year’s festival is taking place between the 8th and 17th of September.

Founded in 1994 the festival was originally England’s contribution to European Heritage Days and has continued to grow since its launch from 701 events countrywide to over 5,000 events nearly 30 years later. In Bromsgrove and Redditch there are over 25 events taking place across the 10-day period.

Events taking place in neighbouring town Redditch, include the Redditch Community Carnival on September 16, a special exhibition at Redditch Library and the opportunity to get up close to the Paolozzi Mosaics in the Kingfisher Centre.

This is just a handful of the events taking place across the 10-day festival. A booklet containing all of the details for Bromsgrove and Redditch is available here.

For more information on any of the Open Days in Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcestershire or further afield, go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk where interested visitors can search for events based on accessibility, interest, online or in-person or by map and postcode functions.