DOZENS of churches, parks, museums, galleries and other historic buildings across the region will be open free of charge later this week, for this year’s Heritage Open Days.
Nationally, the English Heritage initiative will see 4,000 properties opened free between September 8 and 11.
Many locations will be taking part for the first time and up to a million people are expected to visit.
Highlights in this region include the chance to join a Temperance meeting and march through Stockton, as anti-drink campaigners take their message to Taggy Lane.
Visitors are invited to ‘see what poor souls can be saved from such a notorious den of iniquity’.
England’s only listed pigeon cree, in Ryhope, Sunderland, will be open and there will be tours of Durham Town Hall and Whitley Bay ice rink.
The country’s oldest bowling green, in Gateshead, will be open for visits and games, while miners’ lodge banners from around the Durham coalfield will be on display at Bowburn Community Centre, Bowburn, County Durham.
In Durham, nearly 40 venues are taking part, including several churches, university colleges, museums and the Durham Cathedral and Castle World Heritage Site.
Across Darlington, the Civic Theatre, library, St Andrew’s Church in Haughton-le-Skerne and Westbrook Villas are among the destinations signed up.
Further south, Scotch Corner war memorial chapel, near Oldstead, between Thirsk and Helmsley, North Yorkshire will be open and relatives of its founder, the late John Bunting, will answer questions.
New for this year, the recently restored Myton Stud Farm, near York, will open its doors for free tours.
There will also be many other events, ranging from re-enactments to walks, at locations across the country.
Carol Pyrah, planning director for English Heritage in the North-East, said: "Heritage Open Days is a unique event. For four days, the North-East opens its doors and everyone is free to explore.
"An army of volunteers welcome the public to an array of fascinating buildings. It is these volunteers, and the places they celebrate, that are the lifeblood of our country’s heritage."
Some events require pre-booking. For full details, including a directory, visit heritageopendays.org.uk
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