Join Sandwell Museums and Sandwell Archives services to celebrate the return of the Heritage Open Days festival this September.
The annual national Heritage Open Days is the largest festival of heritage in England. Organisations across the country showcase events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture brought to you by the National Trust. It's a chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
The theme for Heritage Open Days 2024 is Routes – Networks – Connections, celebrating how people and ideas have moved around and come together throughout history. This sits perfectly alongside our celebration of Sandwell turning 50 in 2024.
Sandwell Museums and Sandwell Archives services are hosting a wide range of events, activities, talks, walks, tours, open days, exhibitions and peeps behind the scenes from Friday 6 to Sunday 15 September.
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, Sandwell Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Community, said: "Sandwell has a wonderfully rich heritage to celebrate, especially this year as Sandwell turns 50.
"I want as many residents and visitors as possible to enjoy the fun and educational events across Sandwell."
Visitors will have the opportunity to discover and explore our archives service with a day of activities, take a history walk in the footprints of painter Henry Challis and see his paintings on display, see local history displays and old photographs as well as our Black Tudors exhibition. Take a peep behind the scenes with cellar and attic tours of our museums, enjoy our history talks about medieval Bromwich Hall, the River Stour and 17th century West Bromwich, enjoy a day exploring the life of Victorian Historic Frederick Hackwood and get a chance to visit Bishop Asbury Cottage and Galton Valley Pumping station and finally travel back to the 1400s for our medieval encampment.
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing & Projects Manager says: “The scale and diversity of Heritage Open Days is just incredible – every year thousands of passionate people help visitors to make doorstep discoveries and connect with history and heritage in every part of England.
To find out more information about how you can discover and explore events and activities in Sandwell as part of Heritage Open Days via the Heritage Open Days website or go to the Visit Sandwell website and follow Sandwell on social media @sandwellmuseums and @sandwellarchives