Heritage venues to offer behind the scenes access

Ten organisations will offer behind the scenes access after receiving grants to help local people explore the heritage and history of their area.

Heritage Open Days, England's largest festival of history and culture, takes place from 12 to 21 September.

East Suffolk Council offered grants up to £500 to encourage local participation and events will now be held at places including Walpole Old Chapel, The Long Shop Museum and more.

Sarah Whitelock from the council said the district was "full of hidden stories ready to be uncovered".

Heritage Open Days is held each year and this year's theme is architecture.

The council has offered grants to the following organisations:

• Woodbridge Town Council: Shire Hall 450th anniversary
• Halesworth Museum: Promotion and coordination of a number of events in Halesworth
• RSPB Minsmere: Operation Zebra - How Minsmere Nature Reserve was built
• Lowestoft Town Council: Heritage skills market
• Blythburgh Station: Open Day and Model Railway Show
• Bungay, Beccles and Halesworth Town Councils (joint application): The design and print of a joint brochure to promote events in all three towns
• The Long Shop Museum: The Steam Engine that turned into a cathedral
• Marina Theatre (hosted at the Battery of Ideas): Look through the theatre's historical archives
• Walpole Old Chapel: See one of Suffolk's rarest examples of nonconformist architecture
• St Benet's Minster: Tours, displays, family activities

"We are very pleased to support this year's Heritage Open Days festival, and hope that residents enjoy these events," Whitelock said.

"By spotlighting the people, places and traditions that have shaped our district, we hope to keep our heritage alive and pass it on to the next generation.

"Culture is an important part of a town's identity, and East Suffolk is full of hidden stories ready to be uncovered this September."

Liam Montgomery, marketing and projects manager at Heritage Open Days, added the festival was "all about uncovering stories that make different local areas unique" and he said East Suffolk had "so much to offer".

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