Gentian announced as sponsor of Hampshire History Trust’s February Midweek Musings talk and 2026 Heritage Open Days Festival

Hampshire History Trust (HHT), the charity behind Winchester Heritage Open Days, is delighted to announce an ongoing partnership with Gentian, who will sponsor both the Trust’s February Midweek Musings talk and the 2026 Heritage Open Days festival.

Gentian values the cultural heritage and history of Winchester where it  owns and manages several properties on the  High Street and across the city. Their support will help HHT continue delivering high‑quality cultural programming that connects residents and visitors with the stories, buildings, and people that shape the city.

The February Midweek Musings event - “Adventures to the Southern Hemisphere” - features historian and broadcaster Dan Snow alongside local professor Ed Rochead. Their double‑bill talk will delve into remarkable journeys of exploration, the courage behind them, and the lasting impact of these moments in history.

Nick Ekins, Managing Director at Gentian, shared why the company was keen to support this particular event: “I am fascinated by pioneering stories of bravery and resilience and how lessons from them can be translated into modern day life and business. I’m sure Dan Snow and Ed Rochead are going to be very motivational.”

Gentian’s sponsorship also extends to the 2026 Heritage Open Days festival in September, which will once again open doors to Winchester’s most treasured historic spaces. For Nick, the festival holds personal significance: “I grew up in Hampshire and have lived in Winchester for the last 20 years. As a Chartered Surveyor I have an interest in buildings and in particular those that have been sympathetically restored. I’m looking forward to any opportunities to look around historic buildings that are otherwise closed to the public.”

Speaking about the partnership, Nick added: “We’re pleased to be able to partner with the Hampshire History Trust again this year and as part of this support, sponsor both the February Midweek Musings talks and the Heritage Open Days Festival. Gentian values the cultural heritage and history of Winchester and by supporting the Hampshire History Trust we can celebrate our city and contribute towards making it a desirable place for people to live, work and visit.”

HHT welcomed the collaboration, noting that Gentian’s commitment to heritage and community aligns closely with the Trust’s mission to make Winchester’s history accessible, engaging, and celebrated year‑round.

Tickets are now available to purchase on Hampshire History Trust’s Ticketsource page www.ticketsource.com/hampshire-history-trust with discounted prices for Friends of HHT.

Hampshire History Trust Launches Midweek Musings Series with a Talk on Baroque Architect Thomas Archer

Hampshire History Trust (HHT), the esteemed organisers of Winchester Heritage Open Days festival, is excited to announce the launch of  its new lecture series, ‘Hampshire History Midweek Musings’. The inaugural lecture, presented by Dr. Helen Lawrence-Beaton, will focus on the renowned Baroque architect Thomas Archer (1668-1743). This insightful event will take place at 6pm on Thursday 8 August, at the ADAM Architecture offices on Hyde Street, WInchester. 

Liz King, Chair of Hampshire History Trust, expressed her enthusiasm for the new series, stating: 

“We are thrilled to introduce ‘Hampshire History Midweek Musings,’ which will illuminate the often-overlooked aspects of Hampshire’s rich history. This series represents our ongoing commitment to bringing the past to life and making it accessible to all.” 

Dr. Lawrence-Beaton's lecture will delve into the diverse array of houses, landscapes, and garden buildings designed by Thomas Archer, a key yet frequently overlooked figure in early eighteenth-century English Baroque architecture. Archer's influential career at court provided him with connections to some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals of his time, facilitating many of his significant architectural commissions. The talk will include an exploration of his innovative landscape design and documented works within Hampshire, including his pioneering estate at Hale, where he is buried in the estate church.

Dr. Helen Lawrence-Beaton brings extensive expertise in British architecture and Garden History, with 20 years of experience in writing Heritage Statements, Pattern Books, and Local Character Studies. She has thoroughly researched the history and development of numerous listed buildings, historic estates, farms, towns, and villages across the UK. After studying History of Art, Dr. Lawrence-Beaton joined ADAM Architecture in 2002, earned a Master's degree in Garden History, and completed a PhD on Thomas Archer, establishing her as the leading authority on this prominent Baroque architect.

Tickets for the lecture include a complimentary drink, providing the perfect opportunity to unwind and engage with the fascinating history of one of Hampshire's notable historical figures.

For more details and to book tickets, please visit our website: www.hampshirehistorytrust.com.

Jane Austen and Gothic Tourism: A Talk by Dr. Cheryl Butler

Join Dr. Cheryl Butler for a fascinating talk on literary icon Jane Austen in anticipation of the Jane Austen 250 programme in 2025! This fundraising event for Hampshire History Trust will take place on Friday 19 July at The ARC, Winchester from 7:30 - 8:30pm. 

The talk will focus on Austen’s first novel “Northanger Abbey'' and its connections with Gothic tourism. Dr. Butler will reflect on the author’s love for gothic fiction and the public’s interest in mediaeval ruins such as Hampshire’s Netley Abbey where writers, poets, artists and tourists would visit in the hopes of seeing ghostly monks, and other apparitions. 

As a contributing editor for the Southampton Record Series, Dr Butler's twin passion for history and drama have driven her work as a playwright, novelist and lecturer. She is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a keen supporter of several heritage organisations.

An Evening with Dan Snow

Dan Snow: An Evening with Dan Snow

Friday 2 February at Winchester College.

6.30-7.30pm

Tickets £15.00

Tickets can be booked via Eventbrite.

Hampshire History Trust, organisers of the Winchester Heritage Open Days, is pleased to present An Evening with Dan Snow on Friday 2 February at Winchester College. This event is a fundraiser to support the work of the Trust. 

Dan Snow, an award-winning historian has recently been announced as a patron of Hampshire History Trust. Dan, who has been captivating audiences over the past two decades with his talks and podcasts, will be sharing his wealth of memorable anecdotes from his career as a historian and broadcaster in this engaging and thought-provoking talk. 

Dan is well known for his many contributions to historical programmes and his work has been seen across various television series including Dan Snow on Lloyd George: My Great-Great-Grandfather, Pompeii: The Discovery with Dan Snow and Locomotion: Dan Snow’s History of Railways. 

Dan started his History Hit Podcasts (@historyhit) in 2015 and it has become the UK’s number one history podcast covering a range of exciting and interesting topics. Dan was awarded an MBE in 2019 for his extraordinary impact on history education. 

Nicky Gottlieb, Chair of Hampshire History Trust said ‘We are very excited to have Dan joining us to share his love of history in what is sure to be a very enjoyable evening.

‘As an organisation we receive no regular funding and as HODs events are all free to attend the opportunity to hold a fundraising event is very important to help fund our future projects and activities.’

This event is supported by Winchester College.

Winchester Heritage Open Days 2023 a Huge Success

Winchester Heritage Open Days festival, which took place this year between 8-17 September, has once again been a resounding success with nearly 140 free events attracting audiences from throughout Hampshire and beyond.

The year’s theme of ‘Creativity Unwrapped’ inspired event organisers, with drop-in events like the open City of Winchester Trust’s exhibition of paintings by local artists, or the St. Denys Church Scavenger Hunt supplementing the pre-booked one-off activities.

New events this year included visits to the Archaeological Investigation of the Central Winchester Regeneration, family fun in the Marvellous Middle Ages at Winchester College and Croissants & cartouches at The Winchester Bakery.

Further afield Buckler’s Hard Museum was open for free while St Barbe Museum + Art Gallery in Lymington put on an action packed programme during their Inspire Weekend which included live music, theatre, community art, talks, creative textiles, smashing pottery, snow queen storytelling and a stilt walker!

A highlight of the festival was a day of activities at The Great Hall in Winchester which included the debut performance by Winchester Poetry Festival’s artistic director Clare Pollard of her new translation of the 13th Century tale of Sir Orfeo - a poem full of kings, queens, fairies, music and Winchester landmarks. There were also a 'taster' event for the English Project's Captain Swing Riots Review, dance sessions by the Hampshire Regency Dancers, and a Classic and Sports Car display by the MG Owners Club.

Other events across the county included, open days and free entry at Jane Austen’s House in Chawton and Gilbert White’s House in Selborne, a literary tour of Winchester run by Dr Gary Farnell of the University of Winchester, calligraphy sessions run by Hyde900, and a Treasure Trail created by young artists of drawings and paintings of the buildings of Winchester High Street.

Heritage Open Days is about bringing communities together, exploring local heritage and sharing stories. Feedback from attendees highlighted the enjoyment of discovering new places or histories as well as praising the friendliness of staff at venues and the knowledgeable guides involved in tours.

‘An excellent morning out,’ said one attendee. ‘The venue was superb, and one I had never heard of or would ever have visited had it not been for HOD’.

A visitor from the USA commented: ‘It has been my privilege to attend over 15 events within the last 10 days. The diversity of novel experiences, the ability to learn from experts in their field, and the beauty seen on the guided walks has been a most enlightening experience for myself and my friends. On the walking tours, I heard over and over again comments like “I have lived in Winchester for over 20 years, and I never knew or noticed that”. This is my third year of attending the Heritage Open Days and I set my alarm clock for 4 AM US time to book the tickets when they first become available. The organizers and sponsors of these events do a wonderful job.’

Nicky Gottlieb, Festival Director said:

‘It was brilliant to once again run a full festival of events and activities which focussed on the history and heritage of Winchester and Hampshire. The ‘Creativity Unwrapped’ theme certainly inspired organisations and individuals, and the range of events presented was truly wonderful.’

‘We are extremely grateful to our funders and sponsors and would especially like to thank Winchester College, Winchester BID, the Hampshire Chronicle, and Belgarum Estate Agents for their continued support.’

‘Of course the festival wouldn’t be possible without the team of volunteers who gave so much of their time and energy to making the Heritage Open Days festival such a success.’

The festival was launched this year with a talk at Winchester College by historian Alice Loxton. This fundraising event also saw the launch of the Friends of Hampshire History Trust.

Winchester Heritage Open Days is organised by Hampshire History Trust ,a local charity dedicated to connecting local people to the history of the area. The next event planned by the Trust is a coffee morning at Rick Stein’s restaurant on 9 November between 9:00-11:00a.m.