HISTORIC TREASURES OPEN THEIR DOORS
- ·Liverpool’s greatest buildings and landmarks to give public a FREE season of behind the scenes tours
- ·Heritage Open Days season to run for 11 days across more than 50 venues
- ·Highlights include tours of rare engineering feats such as lift bridges, tunnels, classic buses and coal fired tugs
- ·Liverpool’s season co-ordinated by Liverpool City Council starts Thursday, September 9 2010
THE DOORS to many of Liverpool’s greatest historical treasures will be thrown open to the public for the next fortnight providing FREE behind the scenes access to some of the city’s best kept secrets.
More than 50 architectural gems – some dating back almost 600 years – will open as part of the Heritage Open Days Season, which will run in the city from 9-19 September.
Along with entry to more than twenty Grade I and Grade II* listed buildings, such as the Liver Buildings, Speke Hall and Liverpool’s two cathedrals, there are also a range of new features to this year’s offer.
They include:
•          The Engine Room at Bascule Bridge – The 78-year-old steel structure is one of the only surviving examples of a rolling Bascule lifting bridge in the UK and is an integral feature of the Stanley Dock Conservation Area and the World Heritage designation. It re-opened last month after a two-year closure. Tours on September 11-12 only from 1.30-5pm
•          Liverpool John Moores University Tour of Special Collections and Archives – Aldham Robarts Learning Centre. This rarely seen collection contains a range of topics from popular music, fashion and Liverpool history. On September 11 and 18 only from 10am-11.30am
•          Walton Old Grammar School – One of the oldest schoolhouses in the North West – and the oldest in Liverpool – dating from 1613 and replaced an earlier school from 1548. Enjoy a presentation about school life from centuries past, and find out why 18th century Welsh Poet Goronwy Owen was there. (September 11, 10am-4pm – September 12, 1pm-4pm)
Attractions in Liverpool Heritage Opens Days season have been defined under four key themes: Grand Designs, Innovation and Industry; The Great Outdoors and Sacred sites.
Other notable highlights include tours of the Mersey Tunnel and Williamson Tunnels, as well as tours of the last remaining coal fired tug at Sandon Dock (September 11 only) to trips on classic buses (September 12 only) and behind the scenes guide to ancient justice landmarks such as West Derby Courthouse and Wavertree Lock Up.
The programme of tours and family friendly events have been devised that everyone can enjoy their local heritage and have been co-ordinated by English Heritage and Liverpool City Council.
For the very latest Liverpool Heritage Open Days information please check; out www.visitliverpool.com or call 0151 233 2008.
For the national Heritage Open Days programme please log onto www.heritageopendays.org.uk or call 0844 335 1884.