Heritage Open Days returns with free programme exploring Chelmsford’s history

Chelmsford’s Heritage Open Days returns 6–15 September 2024 with free events exploring the district’s heritage. Through walks, talks, tours and virtual events, this year’s programme explores the extraordinary figures, fantastic innovations, and stunning architecture that make up Chelmsford’s history.

Heritage Open Days is a nationwide festival held every year in September that celebrates local histories through free events. Chelmsford’s 2024 programme is organised by Chelmsford Civic Society and supported by Chelmsford City Council and Patch.

Sessions booking up quickly

Chelmsford’s Heritage Open Days is extremely popular, and in 2024 many events have been booking up quickly. Spaces have already sold out for several walks and talks, but limited tickets are still available for a black history walk and tours of Springfield’s fascinating Bronze Age enclosure.

Joseph Freeman's listed grave site.

The programme also features events that don’t require pre-booking. These include tours of Stock Windmill taking place on Sunday 8 September from 2pm to 5pm. You can explore all five floors of the Grade II listed tower mill, and guides will be on hand to explain how the 19th-century building converts grain into flour. If the weather is kind on the day, why not bring along a picnic to enjoy on the mill’s grounds afterwards?

There are also open days taking place at St John’s church on Moulsham Street on Saturday 14 September and at St Mary’s church in Broomfield on Sunday 15 September, and Hylands Estate is participating in the programme again this year via its September Open Estate Day.

1940s day coming to Tindal Square

Following the great success of last year’s Heritage Through the Arts festival day in Tindal Square, Chelmsford Civic Society is organising another themed event this September. A 1940s day of entertainment comes to Tindal Square on Saturday 7 September from 10am to 4pm.

There’ll be live 1940s music from local choirs and singing groups, historic military vehicles from the Essex Historic Military Vehicle Association, and stalls themed to the era. Dressing up in 1940s attire is strongly encouraged!

Check out this video from last year’s event for a sense of what to expect:

Heritage photo competition offers prizes for talented photographers

Chelmsford’s Heritage Open Days photography competition also returns this year. The theme for 2024 is ‘Heritage Water in Essex’, looking for photos of historic buildings, sculptures or other landmarks alongside rivers, canals, lakes or coastlines across the county of Essex.

There are only a few days left to submit your works before the deadline of 24 August. Winning entries will receive a prize voucher, and a selection of the best submissions will be displayed from 6–15 September in High Chelmer Shopping Centre. Email your photos to hello@chelmsfordhod.co.uk.

Community rock snake to record Chelmsford’s history through art

Brand new for this year is a community rock snake coming to Chelmsford! Slinky the rock snake will appear in Boleyn Gardens at Beaulieu Park 6–15 September, and people of all ages are encouraged to help it grow with their own painted rocks.

The theme for the snake is history, so paint your rock with a scene, figure or building from our past. You could paint Henry VIII who owned the former Palace of Beaulieu in Boreham or paint a radio to represent the birth of radio here in Chelmsford. Special painting sessions will also be held in Boleyn Gardens on Sunday 8 September at 10am and Sunday 15 September at 12pm, where you can paint your rock and chat with other participants.

Free online events to peruse at your leisure

In addition to the many in-person events planned for 2024, there’s also an extensive selection of digital Heritage Open Days content to explore on Chelmsford Civic Society’s YouTube channel. New videos to come for 2024 include the history of Chelmsford Star Co-op, a virtual tour of King Edward Grammar School, and a haunted Chelmsford podcast.

Find out more at www.chelmsfordhod.co.uk or by following Chelmsford Civic Society on Facebook.