Some of Newcastle’s most loved and impressive buildings will be unveiling their secrets when they open for the national Heritage Open Days next week.
Heritage Open Days runs from Thursday, 6 to Sunday, 9 September and will include the chance to see inside a former air-raid shelter, graveyard and the one of the city’s major museums.
Some of those highlighted in this year’s programme include a visit to Jesmond Old Cemetery on Sunday, 9 September from 2.30pm, where visitors can walk around the 19th century private cemetery where some of Newcastle’s prominent personalities are buried.
Fans of the theatre can take a peak back stage at the Jubilee Theatre at St Nicholas’s Hospital in Gosforth on Saturday, 8 September from 11am where they can see a wonderful example of a Victorian proscenium arch theatre, completed in 1899 by John W Dyson. Visitors will also learn that Laurel and Hardy once performed there.
Newcastle’s importance to the Second World War will be brought to light through a festival for all the family which takes place on Saturday, 8 September from 12 noon at Blakelaw Park. This festival will pay tribute to the World War Two heritage of the city and visitors will be invited to watch a Lindy-Hop workshop. You will also find out what life was like during the War by talking to a former member of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force.
The Second World War was also plays a role in the history of the Victoria Tunnel which will have guided tours throughout the four-day event. You can learn about its time as a coal wagon-way in 1842 to being used as an air-raid shelter in World War Two. To book your place, email clive.goodwin@ouseburntrust.org.uk.
Some of the city’s civic building will also be open and include the Civic Centre throughout the weekend from Thursday, 6 September where you can see the Banqueting Suite and Lord Mayor’s Silver Gallery.
You can also see what goes on behind the scenes at Newcastle City Hall on Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 September at 10.30am and 2pm.
Cllr Gerald Bell, Newcastle City Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said: “Newcastle has many historic landmarks which have been the backdrop to some of our city’s most important occasions and events like Heritage Open Days give us the chance to take a peak behind these doors. This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about the city’s history and talk to some of the people who know these venues so well.”
For more information about these and the other events in Newcastle over this year’s Heritage Open Days go to www.twhods.org.uk.
Page last updated: 29 August, 2012
