Heritage Open Days 2022

A PROGRAMME of free events will celebrate Sunderland's rich history this month as part of this year's Heritage Open Days, England's largest festival of history and culture.

The festival begins Friday 9 September, and events will run until Sunday 18 September.

This year's theme is Astounding Inventions - it will showcase England's history of innovation and celebrate the creations that make our lives easier as well as the imaginative inventors behind them.

As a city of astounding inventions and home to Joseph Swan who invented the incandescent Lightbulb, Sunderland is well placed to bring a programme of events including talks, heritage walks, guided tours, and visits to places significant to the city's heritage.

There are opportunities to immerse yourself in the city's history with industrial workshops on blacksmithing, joinery and wagon restoration or try craft workshops where you can learn to create 'proggy mats'.

Visitors can take a vintage bus trip to Ryhope Engines Museum, Washington F Pit, Bowes Railway Museum and the North Land Sea and Air Museum (NELSAM), enjoy interactive experiences including a guided walk around old Ryhope with best-selling Sunderland author Glenda Young, or try turning the quern and making some flour at Fulwell Mill.

Sunderland City Council's Cabinet Member for Vibrant City, Councillor Linda Williams, said: "This year's Heritage Open Days really has something to offer everyone. Whether your interested in crafts, art, heritage walks, industrial workshops, or simply learning more about Sunderland's history in the city's fantastic Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, there is so much to enjoy this year.

"Places are sure to fill up for these brilliant events so I'd encourage everyone to take a look at the full events programme online and book to secure a spot."

Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days Marketing & Projects Manager said: "We're thrilled to be focusing in on inventions for this year's festival, as they offer such an exciting lens for examining heritage. From the humble chocolate bar to the World Wide Web, England has an incredibly diverse history of innovation and discovery.

"We wanted to celebrate this by sharing stories from across the regions to really showcase the ingenuity and hard work behind them. Once again, we're very excited to see what our community put together!"

The Heritage Open Days programme of events and activities is coordinated and promoted nationally by the National Trust, with support from players of the People's Postcode Lottery and run by local councils and community champions with enthusiastic volunteers. Every single Heritage Open Days event is free, including access to many sites that usually charge for admission.

To find out more visit http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/ 

For the full schedule of events for 2022 click here