Richmond is getting ready to celebrate its history and heritage with a packed programme of free events for this year’s Heritage Open Days festival, taking place from 11 to 20 September.
As part of England’s largest celebration of history and culture, the festival will bring together talks, tours, walks and family activities inspired by this year’s national theme, Everyday Histories.
The theme puts the spotlight on the lives of ordinary people and the often-overlooked stories that have helped shape our communities. Across Richmond and the surrounding area, residents and visitors will have the chance to explore hidden places, discover new stories and see familiar locations from a different perspective.
One of this year’s highlights is a rare opportunity to visit the former prison cells at Richmond Castle, where conscientious objectors were imprisoned during the First World War. A talk and guided visit will explore the experiences of men who refused military service on grounds of conscience and were held at the castle before many were sent to undertake dangerous work with the Non-Combatant Corps.
At Kiplin Hall, visitors can discover the lives of the servants whose work kept the grand house running, while Memoirs of a Swaledale Woman, presented by Helen Guy, draws on a remarkable 1984 interview with Maggie-Jo Chapman, recalling her life on a remote hill farm during the early years of the twentieth century.
Local history will also be brought to life on a guided walk around Croft led by award-winning journalist and local history expert Chris Lloyd. The walk will explore the lives of people connected with the village, including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll and football pioneer Alf Common, the first £1,000 footballer. Participants will also discover Croft’s former spa hotels and the story of a vicar whose ailments could not be cured by the very waters that made the village famous.
Closer to home, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore Richmond's own heritage. Family guided tours of The Georgian Theatre Royal, visits to St Mary's historic bells and the rarely opened Holy Trinity Chapel will offer glimpses into some of the town's fascinating buildings and traditions.
Other events include Tales of the Swale at Richmondshire Museum, telling the story of a Polish man who made a new home in Richmond, while The Green Howards Museum will share the inspiring stories of local heroes John Weller and Robert Henry Murray.
The programme also includes guided visits to Easby Abbey and Aske Hall, a walk exploring the designed landscape of the Aske estate, and a talk about Richmond's Victorian railway station and the staff who worked there. Visitors can explore the town's historic schools, meet Richmond's Victorian Policeman on a costumed walk, discover remarkable local characters, go pond dipping at Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve and join the ever-popular ghost walk.
The festival will conclude with a guided walk around Richmond Racecourse, exploring the history of one of Britain's oldest racecourses and its remarkable buildings, including the world's oldest surviving stone-built grandstand still standing on its original site.
Colin Grant, event organiser and Chairman of the Richmond and District Civic Society, said:
“Heritage Open Days is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the people whose stories have shaped Richmond over the centuries. This year's theme reminds us that history isn't just about famous names or landmark events – it's about ordinary people, their daily lives and the lasting impact they had on our community. We hope residents and visitors alike will enjoy discovering some familiar places from a completely new perspective.”
All Heritage Open Days events are free to attend.
The full programme is available at www.richmondcivicsociety.org, with printed leaflets also available from locations throughout Richmond.