Southport business and building owners are throwing open their doors to the public for a unique behind the scenes look at the town’s hidden heritage gems as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival in September.
Thanks to the work of Sefton Council’s Southport Townscape Heritage Project, over a dozen special events are showing off the town’s wonderfully varied buildings and historical quirks.
The festival will start from Friday 10 September, to Sunday 19 September, residents and visitors to the town will be able to get enjoy a mix of guided walking tours, visits to historic buildings and more, thanks to the generosity and welcoming nature of a number of Southport organisations and businesses.
Events planned for the nine days include:
-An architectural tour of The Atkinson
-Lost Picture Palaces Walk
-The Scarisbrick Mausoleum
-A British Lawnmower Museum Tour
-100 Years of Southport Dramatic Club
-Hesketh Park Conservatory
-Christ Church 200th Anniversary exhibition
Volunteers have also kindly given their time to take up research roles, as well as acting as guides and tour leaders.
Heritage Open Days is a national festival exploring buildings and heritage through a mixture of places to visit in person and digital history to explore online.
Cllr Daren Viedman, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, said:
“Southport has an amazing history that took it from sand dunes to elegant seaside resort in just a few decades.
“Lord Street and its beautiful verandahs are a well-known feature and if you look up you can see just about every style of architecture above them.
“Heritage Open Days is a chance for everyone to explore local heritage and appreciate the wonderful architecture that surrounds us.
“Our Southport Townscape Heritage Project team has been working with local organisations to put the resort on the festival map with a range of events celebrating the town’s historic buildings and history.”
Details of all events can be found by visiting www.heritageopendays.org.uk and you can also download a Southport Heritage Open Days leaflet from www.visitsouthport.com.
To request a hard copy of the leaflet please visit The Atkinson Arts Centre, Lord Street, Southport.
