Heritage Open Days in Winchester

Dozens of Winchester buildings will be open to the public as part of the national Heritage Open Days,

September 7-10.

It shows the wide variety of architectural heritage in the city. Many are regular participants such as Abbey House, the mayor’s official residence in The Broadway, Serle's House, military headquarters and museum in Southgate Street and Winchester College.

But there are also unusual buildings taking part such as the 1930s Lido, the Winchester Bookshop, the Colour factory, Warren and Son on the High Street and Carter Marsh and Co, clock dealers in The Square.

Open to the public will be Matterley Bowl and buildings in Cathedral Close.

Some events have limited capacity and have already sold out including several tours of Winchester College.

List of events

A ClueCapers Pop-up Escape Room at The Royal Oak, Friday, Saturday & Sunday–10am to 5pm;

A Trip Through the History of Warren & Son. See photographs and first edition books published by Warren & Son in their big safe. The managing director will lead a tour through the history of the business since its inception in 1835. Daily (talks on Friday at 10.30am and 12.30pm;

Andrew Smith's Antiques Talk and Valuation Evening at Pilgrims Hall. Asian Art specialist James Hammond on the changing nature of the market in Asian Art and auctioneer Andrew Smith who will give an insight into the modern auction world. Talk starts 5.30pm on Thursday, Valuation open until 8pm;

The Winchester Bookshop. See displays in the shop showing pictures of some of these old bookshops maps showing their locations and many of the books and pamphlets which would have been sold in them. Saturday & Sunday, 10am to 5pm;

Archaeology at St. Cross Hospital. WARG will present an exhibition of recent archaeological work in the area, in the historic Brethren's Hall, 9.30am to 5pm on Friday;

Aspects of Winchester - an exhibition of paintings by a number of local artists at Winchester Heritage Centre. Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10am to 4pm;

Austen Abridged at Pilgrim's Hall, See scenes from all six of Austen’s novels brought to life in the heart of Winchester Close to where the great author died and was laid to rest 200 years ago. Saturday 10am to 1pm;

Barter Memorial Chapel at Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Rarely open to the public, explore the original hospital chapel designed by William Butterfield and its beautiful stained glass windows. Tours between 10am and 3pm on Saturday;

Behind the scenes tours of the engineering sheds at Ropley (Mid Hants Railway ‘Watercress Line’). Find out what it takes to restore and maintain steam locomotives, and get up close to these magnificent engines in the workshops. Hourly tours from 11:30am on Friday;

Brass rubbing activity at The Westgate Museum. See a display telling the fascinating history of the Tudor and Stuart city in the atmospheric surroundings of the ancient gate chamber and participate in a free brass rubbing activity in the gate chamber. 12noon to 5pm on Sunday;

Bullington Craft Fete in and around the lovely medieval church of St Michael & All Angels . Unique and inspiring local crafts on display and being demonstrated in and around the medieval church of St Michael & All Angels on the beautiful River Dever, 2pm to 5pm on Saturday;

Carter Marsh & Co. Carter Marsh & Co have been based in the city since 1947 and are renowned for their experience in dealing with some of the finest antique clocks and watches ever made. Their 70th anniversary year presents a special opportunity to visit their shop and watch the craftsmen and ask them questions about their work. Tours between 11am and 4pm on Thursday & Friday. SOLD OUT;

Chesil Theatre. The history of the Chesil as a church goes back to the Domesday Records of 1148 and you can hear all the stories and view the photos, handmade costumes with details of pattern drawing and sewing techniques, 10am to 4pm on Saturday & Sunday;

Church of St Lawrence-in-the-Square. It is called the Mother Church of Winchester for it is the only surviving church of Norman foundation within the city walls, daily;

Cosmic Walk and Labyrinth at University of Winchester. The Cosmic Walk features a Labyrinth and offers visitors the opportunity to reflect upon their relationship with the Earth and the Divine. Two tours on Thursday & Friday;

Display of medieval encaustic tiles and tile workshop in the Cathedral Chapter House garden. Find out how tiles were made in medieval times and have a go yourself at making them in the medieval manner, daily;

Display of MG and other classic/vintage cars outside Winchester Cathedral, 10am to 3pm on Saturday;

Free Vintage Bus Service run by King Alfred Buses – main starting point Worthy Lane (Cattle Market) carpark, but also from The Broadway after 6pm, 4pm to 9pm on Saturday;

Friends Meeting House & Gardens on Colebrook Street, 11am to 5pm on Saturday, 1pm to 5pm on Sunday;

Gieves and Hawkes Archive. The store in Winchester will display its military history dating back to 1803 to when Princess Diana wore the Hampshire Regiment colonel in chief uniform made by Gieves and Hawkes. Daily;

Granary Creative Arts Centre on Brockwood Farm near Bramdean . 10am to 4pm on Saturday, 11am to 4pm on Sunday;

Hampshire Record Office Open Day. Behind the scenes tours at 11am and 3pm, see areas of the building, which are normally closed to the public including our strongrooms and conservation studio. Open day & tours on Saturday;

Heathcote Mausoleum in Hursley. It is a square classical brick-built mausoleum, with a low-domed roof and a fine doorway with a rusticated stone surround. 2pm to 4pm on Sunday;

Hinton Ampner, National Trust, 10am to 5pm on Saturday;

Hockley Watermill 18C farm barn mill on the river Itchen north of Twyford, 11am to 4pm on Sunday;

Kingsgate - A Walk Through Time – 40-minute walking tour beginning at Wolvesey Palace site of the medieval palace of the bishops of Winchester then moving down College Street past the College and the house in which Jane Austen spent her last months, daily tour on Thursday, Friday & Saturday;

LGBTQ Heritage lecture – Morally Insane, Inverted, Born this Way: Medical Treatments for Lesbianism 1830-1950 Gabrielle Storey (University of Winchester) will present a 45 minute paper on her research focusing on the interaction between medicine and sexuality in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, 12noon on Saturday;

Long Barn at The Old Sheep Fair, Alresford. See their collection of artefacts showcasing English lavender growing. Daily for exhibition. Talk on Friday;

Matterley Bowl, guided tour of this stunning natural amphitheatre within the South Downs National Park, Tours at 9am, 11am and 1pm on Thursday;

Peninsula Barracks. Architect Huw Thomas will give a conducted tour of the barracks, the five-acre historic site which he was instrumental in preserving from demolition,10am tour on Thursday & Saturday;

Serle’s House. The county council acquired Serle's House in 2001 with it having a long military history background previously, one tour on Thursday, two on Friday;

St Bartholomew Church. King Alfred the Great is long rumoured to be buried in the churchyard,10am to 4pm on Thursday, Friday & Saturday;

St Cross Meadows, 10am to 4pm on Friday;

St John the Baptist’s Church. Winchester's oldest parish church, daily;

St Swithun-upon-Kingsgate. The only church above a gate in the UK still holding church services, daily;

Storytelling at Winchester City Mill Pedlars and Petticoats invite you to discover the City Mill's tranquil secret garden, 11.30am and 2.30pm on Sunday;

The Chesil Rectory. One of the best preserved medieval buildings in Winchester. Enjoy a rare opportunity to join a guided tour and learn more about the building, Tour on Friday & Saturday;

The Colour Factory Studios. Workshops 12noon to 5pm on Sunday;

The Grange at Northington. Take a tour of the rarely-opened interior of this 'roofed ruin', Tours on Friday;

The Great Hall. Book onto our special access tours at 11am and 3pm daily;

The Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty, 9.30am to 5pm on Friday;

The Pilgrims’ Hall Open Days, an early 14th century hall adjacent to The Pilgrims' School. Open 1pm to 4pm on Friday & Sunday;

The Tree Line – Poetry at Pilgrims Hall. Readings from The Tree Line: poems for Trees Woods and People celebrating all that trees mean to us, featuring four poets who have contributed new poems for the anthology: Maura Dooley Michael McKimm Rachel Curzon and Stephen Boyce, 2pm to 3:30pm on Saturday;

The Winchester Model at the City Museum. Travel writer and photographer John Pilkington gives an exclusive talk about his personal connection to the Winchester Model and its maker. Talk at 11.30am and 12:30pm on Sunday;

Tudor Musicians at the Westgate Museum. Performances from 11am to 1pm, and then 2pm to 4pm on Saturday

Vintage Make Do & Mend at Stardust Years Vintage Fashion (Walcote Chambers off High Street), Saturday 10.30am to 5pm, Sunday 11am to 4pm;

vOx Chamber Choir Sing at Winchester City Mill,12.30pm Saturday;

Watercress and Gin in Old Alresford. SOLD OUT;

Whitchurch Silk Mill on Tour at Hampshire Record Office. Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 9am;

Winchester Cathedral. Guides will be offering tours of the Cathedral Close, including buildings not normally open to the public, daily;

Winchester City Mill - Flour Milling Weekend, 11am to 4pm on Saturday & Sunday;

Winchester College - Guided tour of historic buildings, daily;

Winchester College - Guided tour of War Cloister, 2pm & 3pm on Thursday;

Winchester College - Treasury, housing the outstanding collections of art and archaeology belonging to Winchester College. 10.30am to 4pm on Saturday, and 2pm to 4pm on Sunday;

Winchester Embroiderers Guild Display at St Lawrence Church Winchester, 10am to 4pm on Thursday & Friday;

Winchester Guildhall. The tour includes a walk to the site of Winchester's previous Guildhalls in the High Street. Two tours on Sunday;

Winchester Lido , 10am to 4pm on Saturday;

Winchester’s Historic Journey Through Paper Cut at Discovery Centre, Friday afternoon, and all day Saturday;

Winchester’s Military Museums. Free entry to six museums, 10am to 4:15pm on Saturday & Sunday;

Wolvesey Castle guided tour, two tours on Sunday;

Guided tour of Old Hyde House on Hyde Street. After a considerable period of disuse and deterioration it was restored and transformed into offices for ADAM Architecture. Nearly fully booked;

Hursley House (IBM) in Hursley, 18th century ‘Queen Anne’ style mansion set in the heart of a 450 acre medieval deer park. SOLD OUT;

Jeremy France Jewellers, SOLD OUT;

Walking tour of Oram’s Arbour, SOLD OUT;

Winchester College - Guided tour of the Archives SOLD OUT;

Winchester College - Guided tour of the Fellows' Library SOLD OUT;

Winchester College - Guided tour of the Science Collections, SOLD OUT;

Abbey House Collections, guided tour, nearly fully booked;

Hampshire Cultural Trust museum collections at Chilcomb House, SOLD OUT;

Theatre Royal Winchester Backstage Tour, SOLD OUT. The last tour to be led by Phil Yates, 90, who has done them for 40 years.

Walking Tour of Winchester’s Historic Sites and Best Real Ale Pubs, SOLD OUT.

For booking information please refer to winchesterheritagedays.org