Heritage Open Days in Chelmsford: 10 - 13 September
This year the Chelmsford Civic Society is co-ordinating the Heritage Open Days on behalf of the City Council. These take place between Thursday the 10th and Sunday the 13th of September. Nationally the Heritage Open Days is managed by the National Trust. Last year the sites that were open attracted over three million people. All events are free.
Chelmsford has 19 sites open during the four days plus a free historical walk to be conducted by Alan Pamphilon in the city centre. Most of these sites have not been open, as part of the Heritage Open Days previously, and several have not been open to the public at all. The Civic Society has obtained guided tours of the Chelmsford Club, on the corner of New Writtle Street and New London Road. The club dates back to 1884 when its original quarters were at the top of New London Road opposite the Mechanics Institute. It was opened for ‘the benefit of the professional and businessmen’. The present buildings, Staple Grove (previously Laurel Grove), were built by the eminent local architect and Nonconformist James Fenton who lived there in the middle of the nineteenth century. Another building which is open to the public for the first time is the upper part of the RBS premises in the High Street. This was built for the prominent early obstetrician Benjamin Pugh. One of the main rooms was used to robe the judge of the Assize before he proceeded to Shire Hall. The building has been refurbished with all the original features retained e.g. fireplaces, ceilings and banisters.
Two other organisations which haven’t been involved with the Heritage Open Days locally before are the Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A. Both have a history in the city going back more than 130 years. The latter started in a room above Bonds (now Debenhams) in 1877 before moving to its current location in Victoria Road in 1927. The Salvation Army in Chelmsford was on the receiving end of a lot of opposition at the end of the nineteenth century much of it probably stoked by local brewers who didn’t like its anti drink message. Its 21st century building also provoked a good deal of debate when it opened but is now accepted as an important part of the Chelmsford skyline.
Another building open as part of the Heritage Open Days for the first time is the Peter Edwards Cricket Museum. It is open on two days when there is no cricket at the ground. St John’s Church, St Michael’s Church at Galleywood and the Galleywood Heritage Centre are also open for the first time.
Other buildings open for the Heritage Open Days again but offering new events and activities include Hylands House, Pleshey Castle, Oaklands Museum, Sandford Mill, Moulsham Mill, the Essex Police Museum, the Essex Records Office, Guy Harlings, County Hall and Chelmsford Cathedral. The Cathedral has a special tour on Friday the 11th of September after the normal weekly recital covering its history and architecture as well as plans for the future.
Booking is essential for a number of the events. Go to www.heritageopendays.org.uk then "Go explore" and scroll down to Chelmsford.