Heritage Open Days
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It's your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
Community groups from across Harleston will again work together to create a programme of events throughout Heritage Open Days from 11 – 20 September. The theme for this year will be based around everyday histories of working lives: the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker - what did your ancestors do? From factory floors to kitchen counters, school desks to sailors’ docks, serving halls to vegetable gardens.
Man Made Architecture
From Medieval Raised Aisle Hall houses, grand Georgian homes, to more modest Victorian and Edwardian houses Harleston has them all. There are over 160 listed buildings spanning over 600 years. Come and explore architecture through the ages.
Opening Heritage Open Days
Redenhall Rd, Harleston IP20 9EN, UK
Thu 10: 2pm
PRESENTATION - Come and find out more about Harleston Heritage Open Days. The September meeting of the Harleston and District Historical Society will open the community programme.
Historical Society
The Reapers Year
The Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. IP20 9AS
Fri 11: 7:30pm
PERFORMANCE - A staged reading of The Reapers Year, first performed in 1984 and written to mark the 100th anniversary of the farm labourer getting the vote. This revival for Heritage Open Day will feature a strong cast of local performers and songs sung by Sound Tradition live on stage.
Harlestons Future
Victorian Working Women
Harleston Information Plus, Exchange Street, Harleston. IP20 9AB
Fri 11- Sun 20: Daily 10:00am-3pm
EXHIBITION - Discover the roles of working women in Victorian Harleston. From milliners to glovers, explore the skills, roles and resilience of local women who helped shape the town’s heritage.
Harleston Information Plus
Domestic and Industrial
The Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. IP20 9AS
Sat 12 & 20, and Sun 13 & 22: 11am, 2pm
Explore Harleston’s nooks and crannies and discover the rich industrial and domestic heritage. Where did the Butcher, the Baker and the Clockmaker work? Why were there so many schools and public houses? **Booking Required.
Historical Society
Come and Have a Go
Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston IP20 9AS, UK
Mon 14, Tue 15, Wed 16, and Fri 18: 12pm
WORKSHOPS - Drop in and visit our craftspeople and have a go. Do you knit or crochet? Spin or weave? Rag rugs?
Harlestons Future
Family Time Vintage Special
Harleston Library, Swan Lane, Harleston. IP20 9AW
Wed 16: 3:30pm
ACTIVITY - Step back in time with a selection of vintage games. Share old favourites with the younger generation and see what pastimes were like before the internet.
Harleston Library
Oral Histories
Harleston Library, Swan Lane, Harleston. IP20 9AW
Fri 11: 2:00pm
ACTIVITY - A member of the WISEArchive team will be on site to talk about the fascinating work they do collecting Oral Histories.
Harleston Library
Get Me Home
Market Place, Harleston, UK
Fri 11 - Sun 20
TRAIL - Follow a cartoon trail of local shopkeepers and help them get to the correct shop.
Historical Society
Booze and Brewing
Harleston Service Station, London Road, Harleston. IP20 9BP
Sat 12: 11am & 3pm
GUIDED WALK - A whistle stop tour through a town's wayward past featuring the antics of some of the hard drinkers and landlords, both respectable and less so. **Booking Required.
Historical Society
Just a Cuppa - Reminiscence
Harleston Library, Swan Lane, Harleston. IP20 9AW
Mon 14: 2:00pm
ACTIVITY - Come along to a ‘Just a Cuppa’ with a difference. On display will be a selection of ‘Reminiscence Kits’. Specially created for those affected by Dementia they are a great talking point and can be enjoyed by all.
Harleston Library
It's in the Mail
Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston IP20 9AS, UK
TBC Tue 15: Time TBC
TALK - Part of a series of talks created for Heritage Open Days. A history of Harleston’s messaging and sail service over the centuries.
Historical Society
Quantum Leap Library
Harleston Library, Swan Lane, Harleston. IP20 9AW
Fri 11 & 18, Mon 14: 11:30am-7pm, Sat 12 & 19 11:30am-4pm, Wed 16:10am-7pm.
ACTIVITY - Come along and visit the retro library, celebrating how it ran before the digital age. There will also be a display of local history books from Harleston and beyond.
Harleston Library
Open Art Show
The Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. IP20 9AS
Sat 12, Sun 13, Wed 16, Sat 19 & Sun 20: 10am - 4pm
EXHIBITION - An exhibition of artwork from local people with a theme of 'working lives'.
Halo Frames
Working on the Railway
The Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. IP20 9AS
Sat 12 & Sat 19: 10am - 4pm
EXHIBITION - A 00 gauge model railway display, featuring Harleston Station and Yard, and how it featured in the working lives of local people and businesses over the years.
Harleston Model Railway Group
Old Crafts
Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston IP20 9AS, UK
Sat 12: 10am and 1pm
DEMONSTRATIONS - Come and learn about old crafts still practiced here. Whittling, easy to start, massive skill and ‘eye’ to produce striking pieces. Stick making. Take a simple piece of wood and make it into a useful and decorative object.
Harlestons Future
500 Years of the Swan
Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston IP20 9AS, UK
Wed 16: Time 2:30pm
TALK - Hear the tale of a pub which was built with funds earned through treachery and betrayal, and the stories it can tell in its long and varied life.
Harlestons Future
Nature's Architects
From intricate spider webs to community ant hills and river changing beaver dams. The animal kingdom is filled with remarkable examples of architectural prowess.
Plants divide their energy between growing leaves, stems, and roots designing their entire life around their environment. The architect of their own life.
Nature’s architects have evolved to create structures that serve many purposes, including shelter, protection, and reproduction.
Harleston is a pioneering town in encouraging community involvement with nature conservation and recovery. An approach which has been adopted by towns and villages across the Norfolk and beyond. The community will share their ideas and work for others to enjoy and take home.
Community Nature Recovery
The Swan Hotel, 19 The Thoroughfare, Harleston. IP20 9AS
Sat 13, Sun 14, Sat 20 & Sun 21: 10am - 4pm
EXHIBITION - An exhibition celebrating 'natures architects' and charting the evolution of community nature recovery from idea to a concept which has been adopted across the country
Nature Recovery in Harleston
The Beauty of Nature
Market Place, Harleston. IP20 9AD
Sat 13 Sep: 10am - 4pm
EVENT - Harleston welcomes everyone to town with a celebration of natures architects and natural products.
Harleston's Future
Eco Challenge
King George's Hall, Broad Street, Harleston. IP20 9AZ
Sat 13: 10am - 4pm
WORKSHOP - Come along and try a challenge to build bug house out recycled products, and a safe way for frogs to cross the busy roads.
Harleston District Guiding
Natures Architects at the Common
Common Lane, Brockdish, Diss, UK
Sat 21 Sep
EVENT - Explore Nature’s Architecture on Brockdish Common. A ‘hands on’ event including displays and a mix of practical activities, all connected to natural and man-made homes for wildlife.
Waveney Volunteers for Nature
Through the Eyes of a Child
St John's, St. John's Church, Broad Street, Harleston. IP20 9AZ
Fri 12 - Sun 21: 10am - 4pm
EXHIBITION - Artwork created by children from the local school will be on display throughout the town.
Harleston Sancroft Academy
