Heritage Open Days in Peterborough from September 6-9 offers free access to over 20 historic sites across the city including tours of the Bishop's Palace gardens, Railworld museum, Broadway Cemetery, and John Clare Cottage, as well as guided walks around Milton Park. Various churches and the Peterborough Museum will also be open with behind-the-scenes tours. Contact the Visitor Information Centre or visit websites for details on sites, tour times and reservations.

1. Heritage
Peterborough
Open Days
6 to 9 September 2012

2. Heritage Open Days celebrates Peterborough has a rich heritage stretching
Introduction
England’s fantastic architecture and back thousands of years. With more than
culture by offering access to properties 1,000 listed buildings, 29 conservation
that are usually closed to the public or areas, 200 locally listed buildings and 60
normally charge for admission. scheduled ancient monuments, there is
Every year on four days in September, plenty to see all year round.
buildings of every age, style and To find out more, visit
function throw open their doors. This
means you can enjoy the very best of
www.heritageopendays.org.uk
castles to factories, town halls to tithe
barns and parish churches to Buddhist Further information about Heritage
temples. Open Days can also be found at the
Visitor Information Centre, Bridge Street,
It is a once-a-year chance to discover Peterborough. The Visitor Information
hidden architectural treasures and Centre is open Monday to Saturday from
make the most of a wide range of tours, 9.30am until 5pm (closed Bank Holidays).
events and activities that bring to life Telephone (01733) 452336.
local history and culture.
2

3. Tour of Bishop’s Palace and
Gardens at Peterborough Cathedral
This is a rare opportunity to explore the delights Railworld
of the Bishop’s Medieval Hallway (formerly the Discover the rail heritage of this former locomotive
Abbot’s Undercroft), drawing room, dining room, shed and coal yard - transformed into a tranquil
study and the Bishop’s private chapel. The wildlife haven and visitor attraction in the heart of
garden tour includes Bishop Ian’s rose garden, Peterborough.
the vegetable garden, an orchard and the monk’s
kitchen, which is the oldest building in the
Cathedral Precincts. See this fascinating attraction for free on
Sunday 9 September from 11am until 4pm.
Guided tours start at 12 noon and 2pm.
The 75-minute tours are Saturday 8 Booking is required.
September at 11am and Sunday 9
September at 2.30pm. There is no parking
at the cathedral. Telephone (01733) 344240,
email info@railworld.net or visit www.railworld.net
Booking is required by email: amber.homer-wooff Located alongside the Nene Valley Railway in
@peterborough-cathedral.org.uk or by telephone Peterborough, Railworld is a 15 minute walk from
(01733) 355300. the city centre. It is located on bus route Citi 1
Visit www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk (Cherry Tree bus stop, then down Cubitt Way).
There are ample spaces for parking.
Broadway Cemetery guided tour
Located in the heart of Peterborough (Granville
Street), this typical Victorian cemetery was
opened in 1858 with some spectacular
monuments to local dignitaries.
The guided tour starts on Sunday 9
September at 2.30pm with the Mayor of
Peterborough. Children over the age of
seven are welcome under adult supervision
and the tour is accessible for wheelchair
users.
From Long Causeway heading north from the
city centre, the cemetery is half a mile from the
cathedral. There is street parking within 30 yards
of the main entrance to the cemetery.
Bus number Citi 2 from Queensgate Bus Station
will stop near The King’s School on Park Road
and the cemetery is a short walk through to
Broadway via Granville Street.
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4. Thorney Heritage Museum
The Living Heritage photographic exhibition is the
local landscape and natural history captured by
four local photographers. There is also a ‘In the
frame’ pop-up exhibition illustrating framed prints
from a local museum project. Historic vehicles
from Wisbech and District Historic Vehicles Club
will also be on display and refreshments will be
available.
One-hour Thorney walking tours start from the
museum at 2pm each day. Learn about the
medieval abbey, the drainage of the fens and the
Victorian rebuilt village of Thorney.
Displays open
at 10.30am
until 4.30pm
on Saturday
8 and Sunday
9 September.
Guided Walk through Milton Park
Enjoy a two-hour guided walk through historic
parkland on Sunday 9 September at 2.15pm.
Booking is essential and is on a first come, first
served basis. To secure a place (maximum 40
places), telephone (01733) 267740.
Walkers should meet at the Estate Office, Milton
Park off Bretton Way, Peterborough.
St Margaret’s Church
St Margaret’s Church, on Fletton Avenue in
Peterborough, will be open for visitors to view the
Saxon stones and learn about its history. Light
refreshments will be available and there will be a
quiz for children.
Visitors can enjoy this experience on
Saturday 8 September and Sunday 9
September from 1pm until 5pm.
Cambridgeshire Chattels
Organised by Milton Estates Company, this is an
opportunity to view chattels of historic or artistic
interest in Peterborough.
The tour takes place on Friday 7
September from 10.30am until 2.30pm.
Places on the tour (maximum 15 people) should be
pre-booked by telephone on (01733) 267740 and
directions will be supplied on booking. The tour is
not suitable for children under 14 years.
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5. St Michael’s Church, Chesterton
Situated on Oundle Road in Chesterton,
Peterborough, St Michael’s Church is a Grade I
listed building with an 18th century chancel and
porch and two fine monuments. One monument is
to the Beville family and the other to John Dryden,
the cousin of the Poet Laureate of the same name.
A flower festival celebrating 60 years of
the Queen’s reign will be on display. This is
complemented by a small exhibition illustrating
some of the changes the village has gone through
since the 1950s.
Refreshments will be available and there is
wheelchair access to the church.
Visitors can enjoy this experience on
Friday 7 September from 2pm until 5pm,
Saturday 8 September from 10am until
4pm and Sunday 9 from 2pm until 5pm.
Chesterton is situated almost on the A1. From
the south take the turning marked Chesterton.
From the north take the turning marked Alwalton,
proceed to a T junction and turn right over the A1.
From the east follow signs to the East of England
showground, pass it and cross the A1. From the
west, follow the A605 to the A1, turn north and
leave at next junction (marked Chesterton).
The journey to Chesterton from Peterborough can
also be made by Stagecoach number 24 from
Peterborough Bus Station.
St Wendreda’s Church, March The Prebendal Manor, Nassington
St Wendreda’s Church is the only Grade I listed
building in the town. Almost certainly the current The early 13th century manor, the award-winning
church is built on the site of an earlier Saxon timber Tithe Barn Museum and recreated medieval
church. Wendreda was a daughter of the Saxon gardens will be open for guided tours. Visitors can
King Anna who in the 7th century established a see an exhibition in the 15th century dovecote and
mission on the site to minister to the poor and the new 19th century privy exhibition. Tithe Barn
needy. Museum activities include: corn grinding, quill pen
writing, dressing up in clothes and playing musical
The church was enlarged in the 1340s to house instruments.
the shrine of the relics of St Wendreda (translated
from Canterbury Cathedral in 1343) and became a
place of pilgrimage. The church is world renowned Tours take place on Sunday 9 September
for its ancient double-hammer beamed roof, which from 2pm until 5pm. Tea will be available.
is adorned with 118 carved angels. A wonderful The manor is not suitable for wheelchairs;
example of the wood-carvers art, the roof was built apart from the privy all other areas are
between 1470 and 1520. accessible.
Tours are Thursday 6 September and Take the A47 to Wansford and follow the signs to
Friday 7 September at 11am and 2pm. Nassington. Eight miles south of Stamford, take the
Visit www.stwendreda.co.uk for more A1 to Wansford and follow the signs to Nassington.
information. Seven miles north of Oundle, follow the brown
signs from the A605. There is parking for 12 cars.
5

6. March Railway Station
The railway first came to March on 10 December
1846 and was open to the public in January 1847.
The platforms were opened on 23 November 1885.
The Friends of March Station group was formed in
August 2009 to rejuvenate the disused side of the
station. The plans are to bring the centre rooms
back into use as a small meeting room, railway
The Heritage Weekend Open Day is on
Saturday 8 September from 10am until
3pm and will include a number of railway
museum and art gallery.
related displays.
Visit www.fomrs.org.uk for more information.
Peterborough Museum
Explore behind the scenes at Peterborough
Museum and discover the background and story
to its recent refurbishment. Learn about some of
the many treasures in the museum’s collections,
as well as stories from the history of its remarkable
building.
John Clare Cottage, Helpston
The cottage is open on Saturday 8 September Tours take place on Saturday 8 and
and Sunday 9 September from 10.30am until Sunday 9 September - 11am and 2pm on
4pm (last entry is at 3pm on both days). Saturday, 2pm only on the Sunday. No
From the A15 take the B1443 (Glinton Road) to booking is required.
Helpston. Turn off into Woodgate and the cottage
is next to The Bluebell public house. For more information, telephone (01733) 864663,
email museum@vivacity-peterborough.com or visit
www.vivacity-peterborough.com
There is limited disabled parking at the museum
Peckover House & Garden North and there is weekend pay & display car park
behind it. The museum is walking distance from
Brink, Wisbech city centre car parks.
This elegant Georgian town house with wonderful
walled garden is located in Wisbech town centre.
It has many fine Victorian features including an
orangery and summerhouses, celebrated rococo
plaster and wood carvings.
Peckover House is open on Saturday 8
September from 12 noon until 5pm (last
admission is 4.30pm). Garden is level
access (gravel paths) and is suitable for
wheelchairs. There are steps leading up to
house and a licensed tearoom on site.
Peckover House has no car park but there are
several free all day car parks in the town. The
nearest is Chapel Road car park (sat nav postcode
PE13 1RG). The Horsefair Bus station is a 10
minute walk from Peckover House.
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7. Flag Fen Archaeology Park Longthorpe Tower
Discover the secrets of Flag Fen by going on a Enjoy a costumed guided tour of Longthorpe
guided tour of this remarkable and internationally Tower, recently voted as one of the 100 most
important Bronze Age site. Be transported back in important historic sites in the UK. With the finest
time and hear about the lives of people who lived set of medieval wall paintings in a domestic setting
here more than 3,000 years ago. anywhere in Western Europe, Longthorpe Tower
gives a rare insight into the medieval mind.
Tours are Saturday 8 and Sunday
9 September at 11am and 2pm. No Tours are Saturday 8 and Sunday 9
booking is required. September at 11am and 2pm. No booking
is required.
For more information, telephone (01733) 313414,
email flag.fen@vivacity-peterborough.com or visit Telephone (01733) 864663, email longthorpe.
www.vivacity-peterborough.com tower@vivacity-peterborough.com or visit www.
vivacity-peterborough.com
There is ample free parking at the attraction.
Normal admission charges apply. The Stagecoach Citi 2 bus goes directly past
the tower. Car parking for the tower is in nearby
St. Botolph Church car park. Normal admission
charges apply.
St Andrew’s Parish Church,
Northborough
This is a charming Norman Church dating back to
the end of the 12th century with connections to the
Claypole and Cromwell families and the poet John
Clare.
The tour takes place on Saturday 8
September from 11am until 4pm. There
is level access for wheelchair users into the
building with a ramp into the Nave. FREE
Heritage bus service running
Northborough is approximately eight miles north
of Peterborough on the A15. The Delaine 101
8th-9th September connecting
/102 bus from Peterborough Bus Station goes to Peterborough Museum, Flag Fen
Northborough. and Longthorpe Tower.
Walkers should meet at the Estate Office, Milton Telephone: (01733) 864663.
Park off Bretton Way, Peterborough.
7

8. Visitor Information Centre
9 Bridge Street
Peterborough
PE1 1HJ
Telephone: (01733) 452336
Opening times
Monday to Saturday from 9.30am until
5pm, closed Bank Holiday Monday.
Website: www.visitpeterborough.com
Email: tic@peterborough.gov.uk