Residents urged to explore city's heritage and future
08 September 2010
Guided tours of four of Stoke-on-Trent’s historic towns will take place this month as part of the national Heritage Open Days programme.
The tours, entitled ‘The Past Shaping the Future’, will take place around Burslem, Longton, Stoke and Hanley (City Centre). Each tour will tell visitors about key buildings and places that define the history of the towns as well as future plans for their regeneration.
Each tour will also look at the heritage of the town halls and explore their role in the civic life of the Potteries. Tours will be finished with a creative workshop where visitors will have the chance to explore the architecture and heritage of the towns.
Tours will take place between 1pm and 3.30pm on:
- • Thursday 9 September – Stoke and Hanley (City Centre)
- • Friday 10 September – Burslem and Longton
Councillor Hazel Lyth, cabinet member for sport, leisure and culture, said: “The city’s architecture provides a true glimpse of what life was like in Stoke-on-Trent during the city’s manufacturing past and we want to give people an opportunity to see the buildings for what they are. We want people to look up above their eye line and to marvel in the wonderful architecture that makes up the towns of our city.”
“Through engaging tours and talks and the backdrop of the Heritage Open Days, we are able to offer guests a unique insight into the towns that make up our local communities during this year’s centenary celebrations.”
Heritage Open Days form a four day programme of events taking place between Thursday September 9 until Sunday September 12. It will also see three of the city’s museums allowing guests to enter for free as well as giving visitors rare access to areas of the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery; a scheduled ancient monument site.
The full programme of openings and events are:
• Etruria Industrial Museum (Free entry) Saturday 11 September, 12pm - 4.30pm.
• Gladstone Pottery Museum (Free entry) - Sunday 12 September, 10am - 5pm.
• Ford Green Hall (Free entry) - Sunday 12 September, 1pm - 4pm.
• Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Tour (Saturday September 11).
• Historic Walk of Longton - Sunday 12 September, 2pm.
• There are also free guided walks for Fenton and Tunstall on Wednesday 8 September being managed by Urban Vision North Staffordshire.
All tours leave from the respective town halls. For more information or to book your place, contact Urban Vision North Staffordshire on 01782 790595 or email info@uvns.org. Tickets for Chatterley Whitfield and the historic walk of Longton are essential. To book a place contact 01782 827143.
For further information on other open days, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
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