Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019, Heritage Open Days is now the country’s largest heritage festival. Expanding from 701 events at its launch to over 5,000 today, Alnwick’s Heritage Open Day is at Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery which opens its doors for free on Saturday 21st September.
Housed in a former Catholic Church and Grade 2 listed building with original stained glass windows, organ and other architectural features, Bailiffgate gives an overview of 10,000 years of the history of Alnwick and district.
Children can join in the mouse hunt, dress up as Victorian school children or Border Reivers, and crawl through the replica mine shaft, being careful not to disturb the rats. The current Gallery exhibition will also be free, featuring over 30 of Eta Ingham Lawrie’s stunning wall hangings, capturing the light and moods of the hills and coastline of the Border region, Orkney and Snowdonia. Some of Eta’s wall hangings, scarves and weaving kits will be for sale.
Visitors will also get the chance to try the traditional craft skills of ‘proggy’ and ‘hooky’ rag rugging. The Monday Matters team will be in the Gallery on the day to showcase their own projects and invite visitors to ‘have a go’. Monday Matters work on individual and community projects and promote the craft of rag rugging around the County and beyond.
Monday Matters meet on Monday mornings at the Alnwick Arts and Craft Centre, 8 Bondgate Within, NE66 1TD and are keen to welcome new members.