1:58pm Monday 6th September 2010
Heritage Open Days this weekend will see buildings of historic interest in Chorley, not normally open to the public, open their doors.
Events take place at varying times over September 9-12.
The Chorley area will feature, amongst other historic buildings, Croston Old School, Preston Temple, Chorley Little Theatre and St George’s church.
The weekend will help to mark Chorley Little Theatre’s 100th years anniversary.
The newly refurbished theatre will be opening for the very first time to Heritage Open Days will be open to view between 10am and 5pm on Saturday 11 and Sunday, September 12 where informal backstage tours can be arranged.
The Chorley Historical and Archaeological Society will conduct a tour of historical Chorley at 1.30pm from outside the theatre which will include a look at town centre buildings including the police station and St Mary's church.
St George’s Church will open from 10am to 4pm on Friday, September 10 and 10am to 2pm on Saturday, September 11.
There will be short talks and guided tours about the history of the church and an opportunity to appreciate the significant gems such as Thomas Rickman’s unique hammer beam roof and Stephen Adam’s west window.
A small exhibition will display plans and documents, some of which are over a century old.
There will be a bell tower experience; an example of a truly remarkable and detailed family tree; and a presentation at 1pm on Saturday on Thomas Wood, a famous composer and a ‘son’ of St. George’s Church who is probably best known for his arrangement of Waltzing Matilda in 1941.
Hours of opening vary but details of all sites can be checked on www.heritageopendays.org.uk.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/trade_directory/