Weekend of events opened door to the past (From Evesham Journal)

Weekend of events opened door to the past

11:40am Monday 10th September 2012 in News

HISTORIC venues across Worcester celebrated the city’s past this weekend with free open days bringing out the crowds.

The national Heritage Weekend, which saw buildings of historical importance open their doors across the country was well received in the Faithful City.

Vintage motorbike enthusiasts gathered on Saturday for their annual meeting at Tudor House in Friar Street. The event was by John Pringle, who arrived on his 1928 Rudge 500.

He said: “We are really pleased with the turn out for our fifth annual event. The idea is to get people to come and see the bikes and also look around Tudor House while they are here.”

It is thought that about 200 people took the chance to explore the house.

Events co-ordinator Judy Pass said: “It always attracts a lot of people. It’s a pleasure to have here because there is such a warmth to the event.”

The Commandery in Sidbury also threw open its doors for free on Saturday offering people the chance to discover how the building was created with hands-on activities, talks and demonstrations. Duty officer Trevor Harris said more than 100 people had visited on Saturday and taken part in Wattle and Daub and tile making workshops. Discover History were also on hand to show visitors how to create a medieval wall painting.

“We had a successful day on Saturday, it has been good. People have got their hands dirty with the tile making and wattle and daub,” said Mr Harris.

On Sunday, the Guildhall was open and guests were given the chance to take a tour of the building’s cellar, the mayor’s parlour and the old court room. The Worcester Re-enacters were there with displays of World War One equipment and hand-made clothes.

City mayor Roger Berry was greeting people as they made their way around the building. He even let one visitor, 10-year-old Immy Thompson, wear his mayoral chain. The Oldbury Park Primary School pupil said: “I have found out some really interesting stuff today.”