Visit Foxlease Park and experience the site's journey through history via the architectural features of our Grade 2* listed Foxlease House and Coach House and surrounds; see features from the Tudor era cottage it once was through to today.
See Rushmoor in a whole new light this September during the Rushmoor Heritage Festival, the local area’s largest celebration of history and culture. From 12 to 21 September, over 25 events will be celebrating Aldershot and Farnborough’s unique aviation history.
Don't miss this opportunity to sample the amazing rich heritage of an iconic Palmerston Fort. Understand more about why Fort Widley was built and how it has served the local community over the past 150 years. This is a one hour guided tour.
Museum Director Simon Walmsley explores some of the weaponry held in our collections in this engaging talk, enhanced by real examples, and aimed at a non-specialist audience.
The Staunton Country Park Heritage Hub have delved into the historic properties that have left their legacy on Staunton’s vast estate. Starting from 1802 all the way to the present day.
Learn about the theatre building's history in this 75 minute backstage tour that takes in the stage, dressing rooms, 400-seat auditorium and fly tower.
A guided circular walk, exploring the four Mills, the foreshore and Langstone Harbour.
What’s behind the locked doors? A glimpse behind the scenes.
A tour of the ruins of Wolvesey Castle, the 12th century palace of the Bishops of Winchester, led by one of Winchester's official Tourist Guides.
Explore behind the scenes at the Mary Rose Museum, and explore previously unseen treasures in our reserve collection!
Guided tour of private house and collection of furniture, paintings, and various other contents of new build house, shown by owner.
Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of Eastleigh Cemetery.
Don't miss this opportunity to sample the amazing rich heritage of an iconic Palmerston Fort. Understand more about why Fort Purbrook was built and how it has served the local community over the past 150 years. This is a one hour guided tour.
A village walk taking in some of the historic buildings and SSSI locations along part of the River Dever that is not normally open to the public.
An inspiring afternoon of talks and displays, celebrating local projects and the people behind them. Featuring guest speakers from across the sector, discover stories of preservation, innovation, and connection.
Bring the whole family to enjoy the Minster in a slightly different way. Explore the architecture to the music of our house DJs.
Come for guided tours of the fascinating buildings of Bishop's Waltham Palace, started in the 12th century by the Bishop of Winchester. The Palace was so grand all the Tudor Monarchs stayed there.
Join the Newport Minster Team as we dance in the aisles to the tunes of our house DJs. Music of all genres for all tastes (we hope).
A guided 9 mile circular walking trail from Overton to Steventon following in Jane Austen's footsteps.
Ballard School was once home to the Ubsdell family, designed in the early 1900s. Our main school building and grounds still retain typical period features including many original Arts and Crafts items, despite having been a school and an army base.
Become a Time Traveller and walk through the historic town of Ringwood, hearing stories of, Murder, Mystery, Secret Agents, Execution, Heros and Heroines.
P&G Wells is on College Street in Winchester and is (possibly) the oldest bookshop in England. During HODs we will open up the old Bindery & give short talks about the history of the building & the people who worked (and lived) here.
Step into the shoes of a medieval monk and make a seal for authenticating a grant.
Chesil Theatre is based in a medieval former Church of St Peter Chesil and visitors are welcome to look around the building and learn something of the activities that take place there.
Anglo-Saxon living history displays in collaboration with Herigeas Hundas!
Solve the clues (guided by a Hyde900 volunteer), as you follow the trail from Winchester City Museum to Hyde Abbey - King Alfred's resting place and the location of Hyde900's Heritage Open Day events. Discover some fascinating facts along the way.
Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of Lee-on-Solent Memorial.
The Ringwood Meeting House was built in 1727 by a local group of Presbyterian dissenters. This is a chance to visit our wonderful community social building showcasing the facilities we have on offer.
An amazing opportunity to have a go at making tiles in the medieval manner!
Step back in time to hear out about the families who once lived here in previous centuries and their place in Ringwood’s history.
This walking tour led by Dr Cindy Wood will explore medieval Winchester - looking at the characters who lived in various properties and churches in the city which are now lost.
Join us this September as we pull back the curtains for backstage tours bursting with history! What’s more, we will be hosting an array of free family activities, crafts, games,taster sessions, all showing why The Point, Eastleigh is an industry leading arts centre!
Join us for a tour of Winchester Cathedral to explore the history of the British Empire through the art and language of memorials from this period.
St Peter's Ropley has evolved over the centuries, especially after the great fire that almost destroyed the building eleven years ago. The six historic bells have been re-hung in a unique free standing bell tower.
Guided tour of The Great Hall to learn about the architecture, the hall's history and the round table.
A backstage tour of Theatre Royal Winchester for families that takes in the stage, dressing rooms and backstage areas.
A 2.5 mile circular guided walking trail exploring Overton in Jane Austen’s Time. Following country lanes, streets, and pavements.
The Captain Swing Riots in Hampshire in November 1830 led to the incarceration in the Gaol in Jewry Street, Winchester of around 300 men. Our show will look at their experience of imprisonment and impact on their families as they faced catastrophe.
During this years Heritage Open Days on the 13th & 14th September, join our curators for a special tour of their top ten objects in the collection, where you will get to hear some interesting facts and fascinating stories from the artillery experts.
A packed afternoon visiting all the local historical pubs in Ringwood and maybe grabbing a pint on the way too! We will be visiting The Elm, The London Tavern, The White Hart, The Crown Tap, The Pour House, The Railway, The Furlong, The Star Inn and Original White Hart The Fish Inn.
Enjoy a one-hour tour of Winchester College's Archives.
A talk looking at Winchester's ancient waterways - who built them, why and how do they connect to each other?
Ellie Abrams Chair of Trustees will be giving a guided tour and talk to share the wonderful history of this unique building.
Join us on a series of exciting tours that delve into the unusual architectural history of the outside of Portsmouth Cathedral.
Enjoy a one-hour tour of Winchester College's Fellows' Library.
Join Damian Kelly-Basher - Hampshire Poet 2024-26 - for a creative writing workshop followed by a sharing session, exploring the Heritage Open Days theme of ‘architecture’.
Entry to a privately owned Grade II* Listed former Norman Chapel desecrated since the 17th Century, to view an exhibition on Overton in Jane Austen’s time.
Step back in time and learn about the beautiful historic town of Ringwood, hearing stories of people who lived here long ago.
A walking history tour of key sites in Hyde relating to the former Abbey, explaining the history of this important complex and its demise. The tour will trace the dispersal of some of the architectural fragments of the Abbey post dissolution.
A one-hour tour of Winchester College's private war memorial, War Cloister.
This talk will revolve around the development of The Elms, one of the most historically interesting and important houses in the village of Old Bedhampton.
A 30 minute guided tour of the parish church focusing especially on the surviving medieval parts and the chancel, stained glass of national significance and recently revealed wall paintings.
How did a monastic community, of the magnitude of Winchester’s, succumb to the reformations of the Tudors? Drawing on recent research, James Clark will reconsider what can be known of Winchester’s reformation transformation.
Shieldhall will be open on Heritage Open Day Sunday 14th September for pre-booked visits between 10am – 3pm at 110 Berth in the Western Docks, with an opportunity to tour the ship from Bridge to Boiler Room! Come and meet Shieldhall’s volunteer crew and learn about life aboard a heritage steamship.
Step inside Stansted House and learn more about Lady Charlotte Schreiber, a fascinating figure in the Victorian era.
Discover more about Portsmouth Cathedral on a tour of our 17th century tower, not regularly open to the public.
An ideal opportunity to look at Herbert Collins's (1885-1975) architectural legacy in and around Southampton.
Arthur Edward Cogswell was a prominent architect and draughtsman in the Portsmouth and Southsea areas and was responsible for many of the iconic landmark buildings which can still be seen around the city today.
Drawn in by the Architecture - Families
A guided tour and talk in St Mary's Church Grade II* listed, Overton. This event will focus on architectural and historical points of interest from Jane Austen's time particularly when her brother James Austen was curate at St Mary's.
An opportunity to look around this small ancient church, which dates back before the Domesday book. With the help of a guided tour learn about its rich history and how it has been a landmark in the village of North Baddesley for many centuries.
This is a walk around the medieval town of Bishop's Waltham, with architectural information and tales of residents along the way.
Join us for Heritage Open Day at the Hospital of St Cross & Almshouse of Noble Poverty.
Join artist Trudie Wilson to explore the stunning architecture of Newport Minster through drawing – all abilities and everyone welcome!
Come join us for an exciting journey through the rich history of Portsmouth at The Green House Community Hub, hosted by Solent Original Walks.
Discover the hidden history of counterfeit jewel making and its special links to 16th century Winchester with artist and researcher Alison Whitaker.
This is a double-hander encompassing, first, an exploration of the ecology of the Winchester Water Meadows followed by a talk explaining the uplifting story of the Handlebar Café, a winner of a City of Winchester Trust Design Award for 2024.
Where Farleigh House stands today, a house has stood for almost a thousand years. Shaped by the rise and fall of kings, by wars and by a family’s work and traditions.
A chance to see inside Winchester’s magnificent Victorian Guildhall, which is only accessible normally for special functions.
Join author Ainslie Hepburn for an engaging talk about her book - A Jew Who Defeated Nazism.
This talk tells the story of Stansted Park’s theatre from the mid 1920s until World War Two, with an outline of later events and the theatre’s legacy.
'In the Footsteps of the Holocaust' - A talk by author Ainslie Hepburn
Join us on a series of exciting tours that delve into the unusual architectural history of the inside of Portsmouth Cathedral.
Award-winning artist Laura Daly and curator Lindsay Taylor (University of Salford Art Collection) will discuss The Storm Cone, an artwork by Daly that merges augmented reality with the real world for a breath-taking experience.
A talk detailing the uplifting story of the Handlebar Café, a winner of a City of Winchester Trust Design Award for 2024.
An opportunity for the public to visit the Heritage Centre on this otherwise private site and gain an insight into the origins and activities of the Scout movement in Hampshire (and beyond) through the years.
A look at the varied architecture of Kingsgate Street and the Cathedral Close, Winchester, with one of Winchester’s official Tourist Guides.
This is the story of the Manor House of Havant, its use as a private school and the family who were, for three generations, the Head Masters and Mistresses of that school, Manor House Academy.
An engaging talk from Assistant Curator Alex Crisp exploring the end of the Second World War.
Tour of the Hampshire Cultural Trust collections held at the Chilcomb House stores with a focus on Regency period items in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth.
There are many stories about the Pallant and Prince George Street, formally Bear Street and this area of the town where the pond once stood. Cattle roamed past on their way to market while the coaches from London lumbered by on their way to the Bear.
Removed from Historic England’s “At Risk” Register in 2024, following restoration work by Home Farm Estate and Historic England, this is a rare opportunity to visit the remains of one of the castles built by Henri de Blois, Bishop of Winchester and brother of King Stephen during the tumultuous years of “The Anarchy” that ended the Norman era in England.
Almost 200 years ago local agricultural workers revolted in what has come to be known as the Swing Riots. This special day’s events, including the play reading of ‘The Women Left Behind’ by Christine Lawrence celebrate and bemoan those events.
For Heritage Open Days, find out more about some of the artefacts that have recently been given to the museum.
Join us on a series of exciting tours that delve into the unusual architecture history of the Organ of Portsmouth Cathedral.
An illustrated talk by one of our experts here at the Heritage Centre will focus on the role played by those who worked for the Special Operations Executive during World War II, many of whom were trained in secret locations across the New Forest.
To celebrate the museum's 70th anniversary and Heritage Open Day's 2025 theme of architecture.
See a 1680's Grade II listed house which has been made more energy-efficient: air source heat pump, secondary triple-glazing, under-floorboard insulation (two types), thermal wallpaper, thermal lime plaster, hemp insulation, solar panels, battery.
Visit our beautiful roastery and discover the journey of coffee from bean to cup.
Join us for a special interactive talk on the World War Two clandestine Stansted Patrol of the 203rd Home Guard.
Havant has a wealth of interesting Cemeteries and this guided walk will introduce you to a number of former citizens, each with an interesting story to tell.
Come and see this church, re-built from ruins in the 19th century. Discover it's rich architecture with the help of a guided history tour given by the people who regularly worship in the church.
The name Wade existed in the Domesday Book as part of the manor of Warblington. Since 2006, the present owners have been restoring the Japanese and Italian style gardens and ornamental lake. Restoration is ongoing but you are invited to visit.
To inform and educate residents and visitors to the New Forest about the local aviation heritage and the twelve airfields, through our Heritage Centre and outreach programme. To preserve the information and memories that we hold in trust.
A 90-minute guided walk up and around St Giles Hill, including the prominent, wooded slopes and park that overlooks the centre of the city of Winchester. The walk will be led by noted horticulturalist and local historian Dr Harry Mycock.
Discover the story behind one of Winchester’s most striking new buildings with a guided tour of Winchester College's Sports Centre, designed by local practice Design Engine Architects.
This is a guided tour around the West Hill Cemetery in Winchester. Led by Dr Christina Welch (University of Winchester) it will provide an overview of the site from its establishment through to more contemporary times. Do wear appropriate footwear.
Hinton Admiral is an 18th Century mansion, set in a parkland situation.
The house is a family home and, as such, contains paintings and objects which reflect the history of the family.
Visit an energy efficient Victorian terraced house in central Winchester, talk to the owner and find out what they've done and how they did it.
To prepare for this afternoon's talk on the work of AE Stallard, the Havant Architect, this guided walk will visit some of the key local buildings designed by him.
Join us for a stroll through Victoria Park to learn about its rich heritage and history!
A.E. Stallard 1861-1953. A significant architect based for much of his career in Havant. This talk will discuss his work and that of other architects and builders in the vicinity.
An opportunity to look around this Keble Church containing some very interesting architecture, and also to be given a guided tour from a Historian who has co-written a book about the building.
Visit a late 1970's home with energy, transport and heating costs at £75 per month. Talk to the owner and find out how he upgraded his house with energy efficiency measures that include external wall insulation, solar panels and a heat pump.
In this 200th year since Railways were first invented, this walk, along part of the popular Hayling Puffing Billy line, will discuss how this key development of steam engines pumping water from mines came to move freight across the country.
