Chelmsford Heritage Open Days 2024: What’s On
Between 6-15 September, there are a range of free events taking place across Chelmsford as part of Heritage Open Days. This annual festival celebrates the rich history of Chelmsford by allowing access to buildings and sites that are not usually open to the public, and offering free talks, guided walks, tours and more. Some of the events require you to pre-book your place, but everything is free of charge.
Guided Walks
Marconi Walk Railway Station to New Street
Friday 6 September, 10am
Chelmsford Railway Station, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1HT
See historic structures linked to Guglielmo Marconi as you discover more about the invention of radio.
Chelmsford City’s Secret Waterways Walk
Friday 6 September, 2pm
Meet outside: Metro Bank, 38 High Street CM1 1BE
Explore the peaceful and lesser-known waterways along the Chelmer & Backwater Canal.
A Walk in JA Baker Country
Saturday 7 September, 2pm
Little Baddow History Centre, Chapel Lane, Little Baddow CM3 4BE
Visit places associated with JA Baker, celebrated author of The Peregrine, in the beautiful Chelmer Valley landscape.
Chelmsford Black History Walk
Saturday 7 September, 2pm
Meet at: Anne Knight Building, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1LW
Learn about notable people from Chelmsford’s past with your guide, Winnie.
Galleywood Common Guided Walk
Tuesday 10 September, 10:30am
Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, off Margaretting Road, Galleywood, Chelmsford CM2 8TR
This guided walk will follow part of the track of the old racecourse and visit the remains of the earthworks, the exterior of St Michael’s Church, and more.
Chelmsford’s Dark Witch History Walk
Thursday 12 September, 7pm
Meet: Bell Meadow, near the retail market
Learn all about the first witch trial that was held in a secular court in Chelmsford in 1566.
Chelmsford High Street History Walk
Sunday 15th September, 2pm
Meet at the Stone Bridge, near Toni and Guy, Chelmsford CM2 0LR
As you visit locations along the High Street on this guided walk, you’ll hear stories about the buildings and people who lived here between 1860 and 1960.
Tours
Tour of Galleywood Heritage Centre and Its Archives
Friday 6 September, 10:30am and 11:30am
Chelmsford Railway Station, Duke Street, Chelmsford CM1 1HT
Explore the Heritage Centre’s main building, a conversion of the 1920s grandstand from the heydays of horseracing.
Springfield Lyons Bronze Age
7, 8, 14 and 15 September, 11am, 12pm, 12pm and 3pm
North-east of Chelmer Village Way
With the help of local historians, discover the well-preserved Bronze Age enclosure once used as the home of an important chief around 850BC.
Stock Windmill Tours
Sunday 8 September, 2-5pm
Stock Tower Mill, Mill Lane, Stock CM4 9NE
See all five floors of Stock Windmill, a Grade II listed tower mill built around 1804.
Curator's Tour of Restless Brilliance: The Story of JA Baker and The Peregrine
Wednesday 11 September, 1:30pm
Chelmsford Museum, Oaklands Park, Moulsham St, Chelmsford CM2 9AQ
Curator Sarah Harvey leads you on a tour of this JA Baker exhibition to explore the celebrated author’s life, writing and love of nature.
Mr Marconi and the Birth of Wireless 1890-1922
Wednesday 11 September, 7pm
Patch, 5-6 Grays Yard, Chelmsford CM2 6QR
Go back to the early days of wireless and discover how Guglielmo Marconi influenced the working lives of people in Chelmsford.
Staplegrove - The Chelmsford Club Tour
Thursday 12 September, 10am, 12pm, 2pm
108 New London Rd, Chelmsford CM2 0RG
See inside the 9-bedroom mansion and discover why it was bought in secret in the 1830s.
Essex Record Office Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Saturday 14 September, 10am, 11:30am, 1pm and 12:30pm
Essex Record Office, Wharf Rd, Chelmsford CM2 6YT
Book onto a tour of the Search Room at the Essex Record Office, which includes a look inside one of the repositories.
Talks
The Untold Story of the First Female Agents of the First World War Talk
Friday 6 September, 7pm
Patch, 5-6 Grays Yard CM2 6QR
Learn about a group of extraordinary women who faced death by firing squad.
New Hall, Essex’s Unknown Royal Palace Talk
Monday 9 September, 7pm
Patch, 5-6 Grays Yard CM2 6QR
Learn about one of Henry VIII’s first ventures, Beaulieu Palace, known as New Hall, which was designed to accommodate the whole Royal Court as a centre of government.
Galleywood Heritage Centre Archives Talk
Tuesday 10 September, 2pm
Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, off Margaretting Rd, Galleywood, Chelmsford CM2 8TR
During this talk you’ll see archived photographs of the racecourse, the two windmills, and Napoleonic remains, and have a look around the Heritage Centre.
Porridge Revisited Talk
Tuesday 10 September, 7pm
Patch, 5-6 Grays Yard, Chelmsford CM2 6QR
Revisit some of the adventures in the TV comedy Porridge as you learn about some of the practices from the show that were later incorporated into UK prisons today.
Two Millennia of Life, Death and Agriculture in Little Waltham Talk
Thursday 12 September, 7pm
Beaulieu Community Centre, 17 Centenary Way, Beaulieu Square, Chelmsford CM1 6AU
Unearth information about the farming communities that have occupied Little Waltham parish since the Iron Age.
The Witch Trials Talk
Friday 13 September, 7pm
Patch, 5-6 Grays Yard, Chelmsford CM2 6QR
Listen to Mike Dodsworth as he tells stories of the witch trials in Chelmsford during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Open Days
St Johns Moulsham Street Open Day
Saturday 14 September, 10am-4pm
Moulsham St, Chelmsford CM2 0JD
Hylands Estate Open Day
Sunday 15th September, 10am-4pm
Hylands House, Writtle CM2 8WQ
St Mary with St Leonard’s Church, Broomfield Open Day
Sunday 15th September, 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 3pm
Church Green, Broomfield CM1 7BD
Discover this 11th century church building and learn about the Victorian restoration, the recent spire and tower works, and local artist Rosemary Rutherford, who created the unique fresco in the tower and four stained glass windows in the church.
Other Events
1940s Day in Tindal Square
Saturday 17 September, 10am-4pm
Tindal Square
Come along to this 1940s-themed day of entertainment where you’ll find military vehicles, live music from the era, and stalls from local organisations.
Memory Board
Every day
The Meadows Shopping Centre
Add a post-it note with your own memories of Chelmsford heritage to the board.
History Rock Snake
Boleyn Gardens, Beaulieu Park
Paint a rock inspired by history and add it to the rock snake between 6-15 September. You can paint it independently, or attend one of the painting sessions:
Sunday 8 September, 10am-2pm
Sunday 15 September, 2-4pm
Photography Competition Display
Every day, 9am-5:30pm
High Chelmer Shopping Centre CM1 1XB
See the winning entries for the Chelmsford Heritage Photography competition, displayed throughout the 10-day festival.
As well as all these in-person events, there is plenty to enjoy online too, with virtual tours, podcasts and films. To find out more and to book your place on any of the events listed above, visit chelmsfordhod.co.uk.