Several fascinating Winchelsea Buildings will be opening as part of the Heritage Open Days Scheme in September 2018

You will find the official Heritage Open Days website listings here

Winchelsea Heritage Open Days will be held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th September and our event will be one of 5,000 held across England. HOD is co-ordinated by the National Trust and their commitment is to protect local heritage places, with communities working together to achieve this. Last year, some unusual sites were opened, including a talk about the murky world of Sheffield’s drains and how they shaped the city.

Our four sites are not so dark, but we do have a new one opening – the Stables. This site and Blackfriars’ Cellar are linked, because in 1976, a vast amount of pottery sherds were discovered in the cellar – it seems to have been used as the unofficial town dump. This important assemblage, which is stored in the Stables, gives an insight into the social status of the town and the range of ceramics in use from the 19th century. It is currently being sorted and recorded by volunteers from Winchelsea Archaeological Society.

Free tours of Blackfriars‘ Cellar are offered at 11am on Saturday 8th and at 11am and 2pm on Sunday 9th. The Stables will be open from 11am to 12.30pm on Saturday 8th and 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm on Sunday 9th. The Methodist Chapel opens on Saturday 8th from 10am to 4pm, with free entry and light refreshments served.

The Court Hall will display an illuminating exhibition titled ‘Men and Women and how they have shaped Winchelsea’s Heritage’ and entry is free. Tea, coffee and cakes will be served on both days. The Museum is open both days from 12pm to 4pm with free entry on Saturday 8th only. I do hope you enjoy what we are offering to our visitors this year.

There is more detailed information on the Winchelsea openings here.

Berenice Scott