Local Life - Wigan - September 2021

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Heritage Open Days
Organised by volunteers every September, Heritage
Open Days is one of England’s biggest voluntary cultural
events. It attracts some 800,000 people every year and
allows people free access to historical landmarks, many of
which are either not usually open to the public or would
normally charge an entrance fee.
It’s your chance to find hidden places and try out new
experiences – all of which are free.
Heritage Open Days were established in 1994 as England’s
contribution to European Heritage Days, in which 49
countries now participate.
Amongst the events taking place locally is the King Street
Tour in Wigan. Billed as The Street That Was, this event
includes a tour around the King Street Heritage Action
Zone, explaining how the street has developed over the
centuries.
Tales of the lost buildings of King Street will be told enroute
to a number of stops at buildings and areas of
special interest including; Grimes Arcade, The Royal Court
Theatre, Timberlakes and Rowbottom Square.
This tour is available on Sunday 12 September (2pm),
Tuesday 14 September (10.30am), Thursday 16 September
(10.30am) and Sunday 19 September (2pm). No booking
is required. The tour starts at the Wigan Miners Memorial
outside the front door of the Life Centre South.
Two Heritage Open Day events are also scheduled to
take place in nearby Lathom. Dating back to 1500, the
beautiful Lathom Park Chapel will be opening its doors
to the general public on Sunday 12 September between
2pm-4pm.
And at the nearby Scout HQ on Hall Lane, there will be
an Outdoor Medieval banquet with living history and
historical displays based on medieval Lathom Park.
This event will take place on Saturday 11th September
between 12pm-6pm. Pre-booking is required for this
event so please email secretary-lathomparktrust@
outlook.com by 1st September.
To search for more events, check out the website at www.
heritageopendays.org.uk