Heritage days allow public to get rare glimpse of properties in district (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Heritage days allow public to get rare glimpse of properties in district

8:00am Wednesday 8th September 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(1)

Bradford’s rich heritage will be celebrated this week as many of the city’s historic buildings throw their doors open to the public.

Visitors will have the chance to discover hidden treasures including the Bradford Peace Museum, the city’s Mechanics Institute Library and Grade II-listed St Clements Church in Barkerend.

Other buildings taking part in the national Heritage Open Days scheme include Bradford Reform Synagogue, Bradford Cathedral and City Hall, where tours of the Lord Mayor’s Rooms and Council Chamber will take place on Saturday. There will also be re-enactments of trials from the 1920s in its historic law court at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm.

West Lane Methodist Church in Haworth, which dates back to 1744, will take part in the scheme for the first time. From 2pm on Saturday its refurbished chapel will be open to visitors. On Sunday visitors can share in the harvest festival service at 2.30pm.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter Hill, said: “This weekend is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the heritage within our city.

“It gives residents and visitors the chance to explore buildings that are not normally open to the public and find out more about their history and what they have to offer.”

Other events taking place include:

• Vintage transport display in Centenary Square on Saturday from 10am until 4pm
• Exhibition on ‘The History and development of Bradford City Hall’ in the Saville Room at City Hall. Former Lord Mayor of Bradford Stanley King will give talks at 11am and 2pm.
• Last Night of the Proms on the big screen in Centenary Square with a performance from Bradford Metropolitan Concert band beforehand from 7pm on Saturday.
• Bradford Cathedral is open tomorrow until Saturday from 8.30am to 5pm.
• St Clements Church is open on Saturday from 11am to 3pm.
• Bradford Playhouse will be open on Saturday from 11am to 4pm with tours at noon, 1.30pm and 3pm, costing £1.
• Bradford Mechanics Institute Library will be open tomorrow and Friday from 10am to 4pm and Saturday from 10am to 3pm.
• Bradford Peace Museum will be open on Friday from 11am until 3pm.
• The West Yorkshire Archive Service building, which houses the West Riding Registry of Deeds, in Margaret Street, Wakefield, will be open on Saturday from 2pm to 4pm allowing people to examine historic title deeds.