Heritage Open Days will turn back the clock

Tameside is poised to turn back the clock this Heritage Open Days with a series of walks, talks, displays and events for all ages.

Tameside History Forum has worked hard with local groups and societies to help co-ordinate and create a busy schedule of heritage celebrations.

Highlights will include the opening of the medieval manor Newton Hall in Hyde for tours, an historic gem rarely accessible to the public.

While the tales of Beatrix Potter will come to life at Gorse Hall in a unique link to the past, fitting with this year’s Heritage Open Days’ theme of ‘Connections’.

Additional themes this year are ‘Routes and Networks’ covered by the launch of a series of walks across Tameside’s towns complete with QR codes to provide participants with a fascinating glimpse into the past.

Tameside History Forum’s Christine Clough said: “We would just like to see as many people as possible going out and looking at and exploring inside the buildings that are opening their doors, going to the talks and finding out about their area.

“We will be launching the walks next Thursday, September 5, at Portland Basin Museum in Ashton, ready for Heritage Open Days. The walks cover most of Tameside’s towns and will be available as leaflets, each one providing directions of local areas where you can find out more, with QR codes for each walk also giving more information.”

The walks and leaflets have been created by the Forum and will be available from Portland Basin, local libraries and other outlets depending on demand.

As well as her involvement with the history forum, Christine is an active member of The Friends of Gorse Hall, who have themselves exciting plans to mark this year’s Heritage Open Days.

This will see local theatre company ‘2 Boards & A Passion’ taking to the Gorse Hall ‘stage’ on Sunday, September 8, to bring the tales of Beatrice Potter to life.

Children are encouraged to go along dressed as Beatrix Potter-themed animals or make and wear suitable animal masks, before exploring the site with their parents or carers for a very family-orientated day.

The event will run from 11am to 2pm.

Beatrix Potter made a number of visits to Gorse Hall, recording her fond memories of the estate, bought by her maternal grandparents John and Jane Leech after their marriage. They built the Gorse Hall Mansion in 1836 which was demolished in 1910. 

Christine added: “2 Boards & a Passion will be telling tales from Beatrix Potter’s books and performing various playlets all based on the animals in the books.

“Then families will be able to walk around the nature and heritage trail and find out about the history of the site.”

The Friends of Gorse Hall are presently appealing for volunteers to help them with the upkeep of the estate, and anyone interested in helping can get in touch through the Friends’ website - https://gorse-hall.co.uk/ 

Christine will also be involved in one of the major highlights of this year’s Tameside Heritage Open Days, the opening up to the public of the Hyde historic gem, Newton Hall.

“Heritage Open Days is the one day that we open Newton Hall in the year and I am always amazed how many visitors we get. People come from outside the borough - plus those who pass it either on the bus or in the car and come as they wonder what it’s like inside.”

The hall will be open on September 15 from 2-4pm.

The above is but a small snapshot of the numerous events planned across Tameside for this year’s Heritage Open Days.

Held across the nation, the Heritage Open Days event is England’s largest festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. It’s offers the public a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and best of all, it’s completely free.