Dozens of buildings, churches and museums across Staffordshire are set to throw open their doors for the annual Heritage Open Days festival this month.
The nationwide celebration, which runs from 12 to 21 September, gives visitors the chance to discover hidden places and hear untold stories, with all events free of charge.
Among the highlights locally is a special focus on Charles Barry, the Victorian architect best known for designing the Palace of Westminster. He also left his mark on Trentham, where more than 600 of his plans and drawings for Trentham Hall and the surrounding estate survive.
An illustrated talk at Trentham Parish Church at 7.30pm on Friday, 12 September, will explore these grand designs, followed by a guided walk the next day tracing Barry’s work across the estate. The church itself, rebuilt to Barry’s design in 1844, will also be open to visitors, showcasing its Grade II* listed interior with fine Minton tiles and memorials to the Sutherland family.
Staffordshire’s industrial heritage will also be celebrated, with behind-the-scenes tours at the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Barlaston on Thursday, 18 September, and Friday, 19 September. Curators are currently unpacking more than 65,000 objects as part of a major cataloguing project, offering a rare glimpse of the treasures being rediscovered in the archives.
In Stoke-on-Trent, the city’s iconic bottle ovens will take centre stage, with a number of events highlighting those that still stand as reminders of the Potteries’ world-famous ceramic industry. Events include a walking tour around Longton at 11am on Friday, 12 September, a talk by the Potteries Heritage Society about the evolution of the bottle oven at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 17 September, at Etruria Industrial Museum and free entry to Middleport Pottery’s heritage trail on Friday, 12 September, and Saturday, 13 September.
Churches around the county which are taking part include St Chad’s in Stafford, St Margaret’s in Draycott-in-the-Moors, St Thomas’s in Butterton, St Editha’s in Tamworth, Stoke Minster, St Peter’s in Stapenhill and St Lawrence’s in Biddulph.
And in Newcastle-under-Lyme, visitors can learn about the architecture of the circus from 1768 to present day, including examples from around the world and featuring vintage film clips, at a talk at the Philip Astley Centre at 2.30pm on Thursday, 18 September.
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days’ marketing and projects manager, said: “2025 is set to offer the most ambitious and wide-reaching Heritage Open Days programme yet, and it’s brimming with great things to do.
“Whether it’s well-known landmarks and hidden architectural gems or community-led talks and immersive experiences, the sheer diversity of places and stories on offer is extraordinary. It’s a testament to the passion and dedication of local organisers and volunteers who make this celebration of our shared heritage possible.”
All events are free but some require advance booking. See the Staffordshire section of the Heritage Open Days website for more information.
