Discover your heritage

PUBLISHED: 16:00 06 September 2011 | UPDATED: 19:56 20 February 2013

Watford Peace Hospice

FOR four days only, Heritage Open Days celebrates England's architecture, history and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee...

St Albans Cathedral

FOR four days only, Heritage Open Days celebrates Englands architecture, history and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee. Last year the event attracted around 1 million visitors and Hertfordshire is playing its part from September 8 to 11 by opening up many of its historical gems.

CHURCHES

8^th-9^th Holy Rood Catholic Church, Watford, 8am-noon, 1pm-6pm. Tours Thu 2.30pm, Fri 10am, pre-book 01923 232297

8^th-11^th St Marys, Watford, 9am-4pm, tower tours Sat and Sun

8^th-11^th Highlights tours of St Albans Cathedral, 1.05pm each day

9^th-10^th Beechen Grove Baptist, Watford, 10am-2.30pm, talks at 11.30am and 1.30pm each day

10^th Leaside Church, Ware, 10am-5pm

10^th Explore the exterior of St Albans Cathedral, tour 2.30-3.30pm

10^th St Michael and All Angels, Watford, 9am-5pm

10^th-11^thSt Albans Cathedral fun family trail, Sat 11am-3.30pm, Sun 1-4pm

10^th-11^thSt Albans Cathedral tower tours, Sat 10am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm; Sun 1.30pm, 2.45pm, 4pm.

10^th-11^th Dagnall Street Baptist, St Albans, Sat 10am- 5pm, Sun 2-5pm

10^th-11^th St Mary Magdalenes, Caldecote, noon-4pm

10^th-11^th St Leonards, Bengeo, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm

10^th-11^th St Marys, Shephall, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12.30-6pm

10^th-11^th St Marys, Ware, 9am-5pm

11^th St Michael and All Angels, Sunnyside, Berkhamsted, 2-4pm

11^th St John the Evangelists, Bourne End, 2.30-4pm

11^th St Peters and the Court House, Berkhamsted, tour 3pm

11^th St Marys, Northchurch, Berkhamsted, 2-4.30pm, tours 2.30pm and 3.30pm

11^th Discover the medieval wall paintings at St Albans Cathedral, tour 3-4pm

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

8^th The Colosseum, Watford, 2-8pm

8^th The National Film & Television Archive, Kingshill, tours 10.30, 11.30am. Pre-booking required 01442 865158

8^th-11^th Hertfordshire Green Awards 2010, Best Environmental Household, 16 Carleton Rise, Welwyn, Thu/Fri 6.30-8pm, Sat/Sun 11am-5pm. Pre-book 01438 712398

9^th Watford Football Club, tour 10.30am. Pre-book 01923 232297

9^th Watford Town Hall Chambers, tours 2pm and 6pm. Pre-book 01923 232297

10^th Hertford Quaker Meeting House, Hertford, 10am-5pm

10^th Bedford Almshouses, Watford, 1-4pm

10^th Former police station Henry Smith House, Watford, 1.30-4.30pm

10^th Former Peace Memorial Hospice at The Peace Hospice, Watford, 10am-1pm

10^thLetchworth Settlement arts and crafts style building, Letchworth, 10am-4pm

10^th-11^th Rye House Gatehouse, Hoddesdon, a medieval moated site, 11am-4pm

10^th-11^th The art deco Broadway Cinema, Letchworth, Sat 10am-3pm, Sun 11am-3pm. Pre-book 01462 476057

10^th-11^th Explore the underground passages at Scotts Grotto, Ware, 2-5pm

10^th-11^th Amwell House, Ware, former home of Quaker poet John Scott, 10am-3pm

10^th-11^th Visit the 13^th century Place House, Ware, Sat 11.30am-5pm, fete 11.30am-2.30pm, talk 3.30pm, Sun 11.30am-3.30pm

10^th-11^th Ware Priory, Sat tour at 11am, Sun 3-5pm, band concert in the grounds

11^th Berkhamsted Town Hall, Victorian Gothic market house and town hall, 10.15am-1.30pm, tour 11.30am

11^th Visit the former Foundling Hospital and its crypt, Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted, 1-5.50pm. Tours 1.30 & 3.45. Pre-book 01442 865158.

11^th Claire Lloyd Properties, 13^th century timber framed building, High Street, Berkhamsted, 10.30am- 4pm with regular tours

11^th The Old Hall and Chapel, Berkhamsted, tours 10.30am and 2.30pm

11^th The 14^th Century Abbey Gateway, St Albans, tours 10am-3.30pm, every half hour

MUSEUMS

8^th-10^th Watford Museum, 10am-5pm plus Sat 6-9pm

10^th-11^th British Schools Museum, Hitchin, Sat 10am-2pm, Sun 1pm-5pm

10^th-11^thFirst Garden City Heritage Museum, Letchworth, 10am- 5pm

10^th-11^th Ware Museum, Priory Lodge, Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 2-5pm

11^th Behind the scenes at Mill Green Mill and Museum, Hatfield, 2-4pm

WALKS/TALKS

10^th Successes, Failures and Lessons Learnt: Civic Society 50th Anniversary Walk, 2pm

10^th Tring Town Trail, meet at Tring Local History Museum 2.30pm

11^th Tring Park Walk, meet at Natural History Museum 2.30pm

11^th West Watford Local History Group guided walk, meet Travel Lodge 11am. Pre-book 01923 232297

DEMONSTRATIONS/EXHIBITIONS

8^th-11^th Historic Buildings of Watford, Watford Central Library, Thu 9am-7pm, Fri 2-7pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 1-5pm

10^th-11^th Signalling demonstrations, videos, model Railway, St Albans South Signal Box, 10am-4pm

10^th-11^th The Independent Chapel, St Albans, exhibition, Sat noon-5pm, Sun 2-5pm, talk at 4pm each day

ESTATES/CASTLES

10^th Ashridge Estate and the Bridgewater Monument, estate visitor centre, Berkhamsted, noon-4.15pm

11^th Guided tours of Berkhamsted Castle, a motte and bailey Norman castle. Tours 10.30am, 12.30pm and 3pm

11^th Hertford Castle, Hertford, with quiz trails and family fun, noon-4pm

DONT MISS

St Albans Giant Monopoly, Old Town Hall, St Albans. A game of giant monopoly across St Albans city centre and Verulamium Park. Visit some of St Albans's heritage sites by selecting one of two possible routes: 2.5 or 4.5 miles. Suitable for participants of all ages and abilities. Fun activities at checkpoints on all routes in sports, music and games. Meet outside BHS on St Peter's Street, September 11, 11am-5pm, pre-booking available but not essential, 01727 827667.

Editors note: Listings are provided by English Heritage and include only those that have registered with them. See www.heritageopendays.org.uk for further details of events in Hertfordshire and the rest of the UK