Annual voluntary event, co-ordinated by the Civic Trust, celebrating England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to properties that are either not usually open, or would normally charge an entrance fee.
Park Hill Estate, tours of the largest Grade II* listed building in the country comprising approximately 1000 units of council housing which is currently being cleared for major refurbishment, Park Hill Flats, Bard Street Community Centre, Blackwell Close, Thursday, September 8, noon to 5pm.
Beauchief Abbey, Grade II* remains of a 12th century Praemonstratensian abbey, founded in memory of Thomas Becket, with 17th century chapel which has original box pews, off Abbey Lane, Beauchief, Saturday, 10am-4pm, Sunday, noon to 4pm.
Freeman College, Ruskin Mill Educational Trust, comprising Sterling Works, a near complete example of a Sheffield edge tool factory, and Butcher Works, Grade ll* building restored to create an exhibition space, café, and workshops, plus exhibition of hand made scissors, The Hand Forge will be opened up along with the Bramah Pan Toilet and Butcher Works Grinding Troughs, Arundel Street, Saturday, 11am -4pm.
Fulwood Old Chapel, built as a Meeting Place for Dissenters in 1728 and subsequent structural changes have been made through the centuries in keeping with differing forms of worship, plus exhibition of maps, photographs and memorabilia showing the development of Fulwood through the ages including Porter Valley, Whiteley Lane, Saturday, 10am-4pm, Sunday, 1pm-4pm.
Historical Walks around the Village of High Bradfield, from Old Horn’s Inn, High Bradfield, Saturday, 10am to noon.
Lantern Theatre, bijou Victorian theatre originally built by local family of cutlers, tours and talks throughout the day, Kenwood Park Road, Nether Edge, Sunday, 10am-3pm.
Manor Lodge, guided tour round the ruins of Manor Lodge and the 16th Century Turret House, plus living history with the Laxton Archers when visitors can come and make some rope, meet the bowyer (longbow maker), crawl under the warreners net and experience a rabbit’s eye view, use a warrener’s trap, try on an archer’s padded jack, helmet, sword and longbow, hold a crossbow, meet George the marionette and the glove puppets, play medieval games, and see demonstration of 15th century archery (Saturday) and antique valuations by the Sheffield Auction Gallery (Sunday), additional costumed interpreters throughout the weekend, Manor Lane, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm.
Sheffield Archives, includes exhibition boards detailing aspects of Sheffield’s history, conservation demonstrations, behind the scenes strongroom tours and chance to see original documents dating back to the 1200s, Shoreham Street, Friday, 10am-4pm.
Victoria Quays, includes Blue Loop Troop Volunteer Day, guided tours with Malcolm Fielding including the straddle grain warehouse, canal and riverside walk with the Sheffield City Council rangers, display by Coracle maker, heritage boat trip along the canal, children’s arts and crafts - Roses and castles and narrow boat patterns and print, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm.
City Hall, guided tours to access all areas, from the backstage of the Oval Hall right down to the Grand Ballroom, while providing little known facts about the building along the way, while the ornate Main Foyer will once again be transformed into an exhibition space and tea room for visitors, Sunday, 10am-5pm, tours at 10.30am, 12, 1.30pm and 3pm (book on 2233700).
Town Hall, Grade I listed Victorian civic building with access to civic rooms, council chamber and meeting rooms, Pinstone Street, Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Sheffield General Cemetery, two Historical Tours, one telling the history of the cemetery, its architecture and notable residents, and the other providing a rare chance to go down into the vaults below the Gatehouse to hear the spooky Tales from the Crypt, Sunday, noon – 4pm, meet at Cemetery Gatehouse at the top of Cemetery Avenue, off Ecclesall Road at the Café Rouge Corner.
St Giles’s Parish Church, dating back to the 12th century, Grade II* listed whose items of interest include Norman font, medieval stained glass, Madonna and Child window and others, Saxon cross, stocks, memorials, Kirkcroft Lane, Killamarsh, Sunday, noon to 4pm.
St James’s Church, transitional Norman and 15th century church with 16th century chapel and tombs, nine-sided font of c.1200, statue and nearby grave of Sir Francis Chantrey, Norton Lane, Norton Church Road, Norton Rectory, Saturday, 10am to noon, 2pm-4pm, Sunday, 2pm-4pm.
St Mary’s Church, 11th century church with interesting stained glass and memorials, leaflets available on St Mary’s history and volunteers on hand to answer questions, Handsworth Road, Thursday, September 8, 7pm-8pm, Friday, noon ot 1pm, Saturday, 10am-11am.
Underbank Chapel, fine example of a Nonconformist chapel built in 1743 with two tall arched windows, originally ranged on either side of the pulpit, an upstairs gallery and downstairs a model of the chapel which lights up and an embroidered heritage tapestry, Stannington Road, Stannington, Sunday, 12.30pm to 4pm with refreshments in the Underbank Chapel Schoolroom (1854) across the road.
Upper Chapel, Grade II listed 18th century chapel with Henry Holliday stained glass windows and ornate ceiling, sanctuary gardens including three George Fullard sculptures, Norfolk Street, Friday and Saturday, 11am-4pm.
William Layne Reading Room, recently restored site of first school in Aston, founded in 1743, for 15 poor children, with history and photography exhibitions, Aughton Lane, Aston, Friday, 6pm-8pm, Saturday, 10am-4pm. Aughton Lane, Aston, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S26 2AN
The Parsonage House, Grade II listed family property, designed by Edgar Wood in 1906, carefully placed on the sloped site with rooms designed to follow the sun path and reveal magnificent views across the surrounding countryside, Manchester Road, Thurlstone, Saturday, 11am-4pm.
Cooper Gallery, fine collection of mainly 17th to 20th century art, Church Street, Barnsley, Thursday, September 8, and Friday, 10am-4pm, Saturday, 10am-3pm, family tour 11am.
Wortley Top Forge, guided tour of Britain’s last water-powered heavy iron forge, closed in 1908, with its three working water wheels, hammers and old machinery preserved by volunteers. Wortley Top Forge, by the River Don on side roads that leave the A629 Sheffield-Huddersfield road just south of Wortley village, Saturday, 11am-4pm.
Hoylandswaine Nail Forge, Barnsley Road, Hoylandswaine, Sunday, 11am-4pm.
Elsecar Heritage Centre, Wath Road, Thursday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, family tour, Saturday, 11am.
Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, Bark House Lane, Cawthorne, Barnsley, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm, family tour, Sunday, 11am.
Green Moor Pump House, restored pump house open for visitors who can descend 50 ft (via 30 ft vertical ladder and 20 ft stone passage) to the well head, only one visitor (plus volunteer) allowed down at a time Green Moor, Wortley, Barnsley, Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Worsbrough Mill Museum, working 17th century water powered corn mill, Park Road, Worsbrough Bridge, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm, family tour, Sunday, 11am.
