Discover Corn Exchange at Heritage Open Day today (Saturday)
Find out about the Newbury theatre's Cold War era decontamination centre and other historic buildings
AN eerie Cold War era decontamination centre and the historic cellars of the Corn Exchange are just some of the intriguing parts of Newbury's history which will open to the public this weekend.
This year's Heritage Open Days event in Newbury is set to be the largest ever, with 19 historic properties and events open for members of the public.
The ‘Discover Newbury' event, which takes place over the weekend will feature 10 new properties from last year, including the Greenham Common Decontamination Centre.
Other new properties for this year will be Bartholomew Manor in Argyle Road, the Cloth Hall in Wharf Street, the Corn Exchange (backstairs tour and activities), George Goes Green (St George's Church renewable energy project), Greenham Lodge at Pigeons Farm Road, Newbury Masonic Centre, St Mary's Church in Greenham and St Mary's Church in Speen.
Other properties that will be open again this year include Camp Hopson, Newbury Methodist Church, Newtown Road Cemetery, Newbury Town Hall, Shaw House (open Friday to Sunday), Snelsmore Common Fire Tower, St John's Church, St Nicolas Church and Bell Tower and the West Cornwall Pasty Company, for the hidden arch under Newbury Bridge.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, September 11, there will be two performances of the re-enactment of the 1847 Parliamentary Inquiry that led to the opening of Newtown Road Cemetery.
Sir William Benyon will inaugurate the event today (Saturday) at 10am outside the Methodist Church in Northbrook Street in a ceremony that is due to be attended by the mayor of Newbury, Jeff Beck, and the deputy chairman of West Berkshire Council, Adrian Edwards.
The Newbury Society, which organises the event with sponsorship from Greenham Common Trust, is hoping to better the 2300 visits that took place at the Discover Newbury event last year.
Full details of the opening times for each property will be published in the Newbury Weekly News and The Advertiser next week.
