JEWELS in Hampshire's historical crown will be open for visitors over the weekend as part of a heritage event.
Sites of special significance that are normally kept under lock and key will be available to view, with many organised tours and information days planned.
For a guide of where to go around Hampshire, see below:
- Southampton
- Winchester and Eastleigh
- Fareham and Gosport
- The New Forest, Test Valley and rest of Hampshire
- Portsmouth
Southampton Old Cemetery, Southampton & District Heritage Trust and Dunkirk Little Ships Restoration Trust will throw open their doors, along with Southampton Tram Project and the SS Shieldhall.
Further afield Winchester Chesil Theatre and the Winchester Quaker House will be available for visits, and activities are planned for St Michael's Church.
In the New Forest Lepe Country Park is hosting Cold War history lectures, while further east a variety of activities will take place in Gosport and Portsmouth.
Sites include those involved in both world wars as well as 400-year-old farm buildings.
In Gosport visitors will be able to go behind the scenes at Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower, while in Portsmouth a full heritage timetable has been outlined for visitors and tourists to find out what attractions are available.
Nigel Philpott of SS Shieldhall said: “The heritage open days weekend gives an opportunity for people to appreciate the hidden history of Southampton.
“It's great that we are able to present our history in a packaged way with various organisations coming together, linked by the heritage bus.
“Most of these attractions are kept open by voluntary organisations, and the volunteers are looking forward to giving guided tours and bringing the history of their sites alive.”
The SS Shieldhall will be open on Saturday and Sunday while guided walks will be given through Southampton Old Cemetery.
Winchester's Chesil Street Theatre is home to the Winchester Dramatic Society, which formed more than 150 years ago, and will open between 10am and 4pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Winchester Quaker Meeting House, an 18th century listed building, will host a peace exhibition from 1pm-5pm on September 13 and 14.
Folk music and craft activities are on the programme at St Michael and All Angles church in Bullington, which will open on Sunday, September 14 from 2pm.
Colden Common resident Rob Veck recently undertook a dramatic 'eco-refurb' of his home, fitting solar panels, solar water heating, a wood stove and more to cut his carbon footprint by 86 per cent.
The 'SuperHomer' will host viewings from 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm on Sunday, September 14.
To see a full list of heritage attractions open in and around Hampshire, see the links at the top of this story.
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