by Karen Dakin
VISITORS to this year’s Heritage Open Days in Warrington were give a rare chance to explore some of the town’s hidden gems and celebrate their community’s history, heritage and culture.
Numerous buildings opened to the public as part of England’s national ‘Heritage Open Days’ festival.
Venues across the town who opened their doors included Warrington Town Hall, St Elphin’s Church, The Warrington Club, Warrington Masonic Hall Museum of Freemasonry, Cairo Street Chapel, Church of St John The Evangelist Walton, St Mary’s Shrine Church, Holy Trinity Church, Friends Meeting House and Warrington Museum who, amongst others, all took part in the annual festival.
One of the most attended open events was the ‘Museum of Policing in Cheshire’, based inside Warrington Police Station on Arpley Street, which saw over 900 visitors on Saturday.
A huge array of items and information, both past and present are on display at the Police Museum and the day also included a police crime scene and displays by the forces drugs ‘sniffer’ dogs and handlers, showing how the forces four legged team members are helping to combat the problem of drugs in the area.
Other festival highlights included various events and workshops at Warrington Museum including a Time Travel Day complete with Stormtroopers and Daleks and a talk by local author Gill Hoffs on her book about historic shipwrecks, one being the Tayleur which was built at Bank Quay.
Each year the number of venues open across Warrington as part of the Heritage Open Day festival grows with this years having had the largest number open so far due to better coordination and the hard work of all the volunteers and groups involved.
Cheshire Police Museum at Warrington Picture Karen Dakin
Visitors at the Warrington Club
Friends Meeting House Picture Karen Dakin
Holy Trinity Church Picture Karen Dakin
Mayor Faisal Rashid welcoming visitors tot he town hall
