Heritage Open Days

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

Foster Hill Road Cemetery Open day

The Gatehouse, Foster Hill Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK41 7TD

A beautiful Victorian Grade II listed cemetery with great trees and lovely surroundings.

There will be guided walks to areas of special interest, many of them themed walks. If this is not possible due to covid regulations, a variety of suggested walks with maps, brief details and photos of individual graves will be handed out.

We hope it will be possible to have all the registers from 1855 available for everyone to see them, and search for individual burials as required. This will of course depend on the Covid regulations in place at the time. Representatives of the Friends will be available to help with searches of the registers and also the grounds of the cemetery itself.

Event Times

Saturday 11 September: 11am-4pm - Will be open for viewing of the original burial registers only, but not for GUIDED walks. Direction sheets for SELF GUIDED walks will however be available on the day Sunday 12 September: 2pm-4.30pm - GUIDED walks Booking Details: Pre-booking: Preferred The cemetery is free to visit at anytime but the walks are scheduled for Sunday afternoon only Booking Contact: Margaret Carpenter Tel: 01234 360003 Email: mo@mikecarpenter33.plus.com www.fosterhillroadcemetery.co.uk

John Bunyan Museum

John Bunyan Museum, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3EU

Join John Bunyan Museum and Library in person and online in a special celebration of Edible England for Heritage Open Days 2021. On Saturday 18th September there will be family trails, handling sessions and foodie demonstrations.

John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, is one of Bedford’s most famous sons. Visit the Museum and Church and take a walk through Bunyan’s life and times to discover more about the renowned author, pastor and preacher.

Especially for Heritage Open Days (on Saturday 18th September only): A family activity trail of ‘edible’ history around the main museum; a handling session with 17th century objects about dining in John Bunyan’s day, usually only available to paid groups; a demonstration of recipes made during Bunyan’s day, especially for the Edible England theme.

Some activities will be delivered online via the website and YouTube channel, depending on Covid-19 guidelines and restrictions at the time. Pre-booking may be required to limit numbers.

Event Times

Saturday 18 September: 11am-4pm

Booking Details - No booking required Contact for the day: Jennifer Ayley/ Helen O’Hara (Joint Curators) 01234 270303

Shuttleworth

Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP

Explore Shuttleworth House, Shuttleworth Swiss Garden, and the Shuttleworth Collection.

Take a relaxing walk around the beautiful Swiss Garden filled with pretty seasonal colour and two delightful peacocks. Wander along the woodland sculpture trail, around a lake home to nesting wildlife. Observe fantastic views and scenic surrounding countryside from North Park’s gentle hills, before a stroll around the paddocks overlooking the grass airfield. Venture inside the Shuttleworth House and admire its grand period rooms. Discover the Shuttleworth Collection, showcasing the best of early aviation, vintage vehicles and Clayton & Shuttleworth industrial heritage.

Event Times

Wednesday 15 September: 10am – 5pm

Booking Details: Pre-booking: Preferred Pre-booking is not required, but is recommended to avoid disappointment Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre

Ridgmont Station Heritage Centre, Station Road, Ridgmont, Bedfordshire, MK43 0XP

An award-winning Victorian (1846) station house and booking office restoration in the Gothic Cottage Orné style, with Original Victorian Booking Office, Station Master’s Parlour, Vintage Tea Room & Gift Shop.

Discover the story of the Marston Vale Railway Line engineered by Robert Stephenson and opened in 1846. It was the first railway line to reach Bedford and for much of its life serviced the vast clay workings and brickworks at Brogborough and Stewartby; later transporting much of London’s rubbish to landfill in the former clay workings. Now at the heart of the East - West Rail Scheme to reconnect Oxford back to Cambridge. Guided tours available of the Heritage Centre.

New Marston Vale Line 175th Anniversary Exhibition. Family Quiz and Puzzle Booklet available to purchase from the Gift Shop.

New Symbol Spot Trail for children aged five and over. Find the Vintage Tea Room in the former Ladies Waiting Room (10% discount available for rail passengers).

Group and school parties welcome all year by prior booking.

Event Times

Friday 10th – Sunday 12th September: 10am – 4pm Wednesday 15th – Sunday 19th September: 10am – 4pm

Booking Details: Pre-booking: Preferred www.marstonvalecommunityrail.org.uk