Newark and Sherwood District Council promote week of historic and cultural events as part of Heritage Open Days, from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 15

In a celebration of history and culture, residents will have the chance to discover hidden places and history from across the district.

Heritage Open Days is a national initiative running from Friday, September 6, to Sunday, September 15..

This year’s theme focusses on routes, networks and connections and will be brought to life through exhibitions, shows, guided walks and tours telling the stories behind our towns, villages, and landmarks — including the rare opportunity to explore parts of buildings not normally open to the public.

Accross Newark and Sherwood there will be 23 events taking place throughout the week covering a range of topics, including the maintenance of Newark’s historic buildings, the culture of river life, and the ‘Art on the Move’ exhibition in Newark Town Hall’s spotlight gallery

On Wednesday, September 11, there will be a rare opportunity to look behind the scenes at the National Civil War Centre’s reserve collection, as the collections and exhibitions officer Kevin Winter opens up the Newark Resource Centre and explores thousands of years of the town’s history through the 90,000 objects held there.

The centre will also be opening its hidden Tudor Courtyard on Saturday, September 7, from 10am to 4pm, where will be able to meet meet a cavalry soldier and his horse and find out what it was like on the battlefield.

Visitors can learn how to use a pike and take part in cavalry-themed creative activities for the whole family to enjoy.

A pop-up exhibition telling the story of the Newark Palace Theatre — from its origins as cinema built by a female entrepreneur in the 1920s, to cultural hub it is today — will be open from Tuesday, September 10, to Saturday, September 14.

Other locations across the district include The National Holocaust Centre, Newark Parish Church, Southwell Minster, and The Workhouse and Infirmary in Southwell.

For more information or to view a full list of events taking place during the week, vist National Civil War Centre website and download a digital booklet: www.nationalcivilwarcentre.com/whatsnew

Rowan Cozens, portfolio holder for heritage, culture and the arts at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said, “I am delighted we are able to be part of this amazing programme to celebrate how special the place we live really is.

“The Heritage Open Days programme has a variety of events for the whole family, from art exhibitions to guided tours, it’s a fun and interactive way to learn all about our towns history.”