People are invited to discover all about Southport’s incredible past through the 2022 Heritage Open Days initiative.
Families can learn all about our town’s lost cinemas; go behind the scenes at Southport Little Theatre; look inside an 844-year-old church; discover the secrets of The Atkinson; admire the lawnmowers of the rich and famous; and much more, between this Friday (9th September 2022) and Sunday, 18th September 2022. .
Every September thousands of volunteers in Southport and across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
Local events have been organised in conjunction with the Southport Townscape Heritage Project.
Here’s what you can see here in Southport:
Find more by searching Southport at: www.heritageopendays.org.uk
1 – A Classical Tour
Starts at The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB (Booking required)
Think Southport is all about the Victorians? This tour will show you the legacy of ancient Greek and Roman civilisation.
Monday 12th September 10.30am
2 – British Lawnmower Museum
106-112 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AJ (Booking required)
New this year, a tour of the Museum’s collection store. Or a tour of the museum and the very British history of lawns and lawnmowers.
Friday, 9th September, 11am, 12.30pm
Friday 16th September 11am, 1pm
3 – Hesketh Park Conservatory
Hesketh Park, Southport, PR9 9NW
Explore the restored conservatory and find out about its history – once at a Lord Street villa – and the park.
Friday 9th September, 11am-3pm; Saturday, 10th September 11am-4pm; Sunday, 11th September, 11am-4pm.
4 – Hesketh Park Observatory
Hesketh Park, Southport, PR9 9NW
You don’t need to be gazing at the stars to be fascinated by this small but intriguing home of Victoria and modern astronomy.
Tuesday 13th September – Friday 16th September 11am-3pm
Saturday 17th September, 11am-4pm
5 – Lord Street Tour
Starts at The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB (Booking required)
A heritage walk along Lord Street will reveal the clues showing its historic development.
Saturday 10th September, 2pm.
Thursday 15th Septemberm 2pm
6 – Lost Picture Palaces
Starts at Garrick Parade, Southport, PR8 1RN (Booking required)
A guided walk around the heyday of cinema in Southport and the lost cathedrals of the movies.
Friday 16th September 10.30am
Saturday 17th September, 10.30am
7 – Duke Street Cemetery
Duke Street entrance, Southport PR8 5EL (Booking required)
Discover the Victorian way of memorialising the dead and explore the stories behind the monuments – footballers, heroes and more.
Monday 12th September 5.30pm
8 – Southport Dramatic Club
Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport, PR9 0PA
A tour of the Little Theatre, taking you backstage and revealing the magic of the sound and lighting departments.
Saturday 10th September 10am-midday, 1.30pm-3.30pm.
www.littletheatresouthport.co.uk
9 – Southport’s Visiters
Starts at The Atkinson, Southport, PR8 1DB (Booking required)
Take a stroll in the footsteps of Southport’;s Victorian and Edwardian celebrity ‘visiters’.
Seekers of healthy air, lecturers, campaigners…
Wednesday 13th September 2pm
10 – Scarisbrick Mausoleum
St John’s Church, Rufford Road, Southport, PR9 8JH
A rare chance to see inside, with displays on the Scarisbrick family and the Grade II building.
Saturday 17th September, 10am-4pm
11 – St Cuthbert’s Church
Churchtown, PR9 7NN
Look around the oldest church in Southport, with a history dating back to 1178 in a Georgian building, North Meols Family History Society on Saturday.
Saturday 17th September, 3.30pm
Sunday 18th September, 2pm-4pm
12 – St John’s Church, Crossens
Rufford Road, Crossens, PR9 8JH
Look inside this 1880s Crossens landmark and discover the church,k village and wartime history.
Friday 16th September, 10am-4pm
Saturday 17th September, 10am-4pm
13 – The Atkinson Tour
The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB (Booking required)
A tour of the architectural details revealing the past history of The Atkinson buildings inside and out.
Monday 12th September 2pm
Tuesday 13th September 2pm
Southport Townscape Heritage project supports Southport’s economy through grants for historic buildings and heritage activities such as Heritage Open Days. Visit: www.SouthpoortTownscape.org.uk
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