More than 30 Thanet places to explore for Heritage Open Days

The Montefiore Mausolem will be open for visitors

Heritage Open Days return this September when 30 Thanet venues will be offering free entry for people to experience the area’s rich history, architecture and culture.

Thanet District Council’s tourism team has worked with the Ramsgate Society, Margate Civic Society and the Broadstairs Society to produce a wide-ranging programme of events for this year’s four-day festival from September 7-10.

Photo Brian Whitehead

One of this year’s key themes is nature and to celebrate this, Monkton Nature Reserve (pictured) will be taking part for the first time.

Other newcomers include Minster Abbey, Ramsgate Tunnels, the Yarrow Hotel (Broadstairs), Ramsgate Costumed Walks, St George the Martyr church (Ramsgate), India House (Margate), St John the Baptist church (Margate) and Birchington Heritage Centre.

A special exhibition of historical seaside photographs will also be on show at the Thanet Information Centre, Droit House, Margate.

This is the largest heritage festival in the England and in 2016 it attracted around 3 million visitors to over 5,000 events.

Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise Services, Cllr Hunter Stummer-Schmertzing (pictured) said: “Thanet has a wealth of heritage including over 2,000 listed buildings and 27 conservation areas. Thanet District Council works hard to promote the Island’s assets and this festival will further encourage and inspire more people to get involved with local heritage.”

“The Heritage Open Days provide a great chance for local people and visitors to enjoy these unique places – free of charge.”

Italianate Greenhouse

John Walker, Chairman of The Ramsgate Society said:”We were delighted to take over the co-ordinating of Heritage Open Days in Thanet in 2017. We have worked closely with the Margate Civic Society and the Broadstairs Society to build on the good work carried out by Thanet District Council.

“We’ve enjoyed working with the tourism team who could not have been more helpful. This year we have 30 properties in the scheme, that’s up from just 11 in 2015 and we hope to build on this for 2018.”

Margate Museum

More information, including how to book and opening times, is available at: www.visitthanet.co.uk/heritageopendays or pick up a full colour brochure from one of the local information centres in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.

Some events will require advance booking so start planning your adventures now!

Thanet’s heritage places

Margate

  • 12 Arthur Road, Cliftonville
  • India House
  • Dreamland Trust
  • St John the Baptist church
  • Theatre Royal
  • Margate Museum
  • The Tudor House
  • Drapers Windmill
  • Seaside Snapshots – a photography exhibition

Broadstairs

  • The Yarrow Hotel
  • Dickens House Museum
  • Crampton Tower Museum
  • St Peter’s Village Tour
  • St Peter’s Churchyard Tour

Ramsgate

  • The Grange & St Edward’s Presbytery
  • St Laurence-in-Thanet church
  • Ramsgate Costumed Walks
  • Montefiore Synagogue
  • Ramsgate Maritime Museum
  • USN P22 – US navy gun boat
  • Steam Tug ‘Cervia’
  • St George the Martyr church
  • Italianate Glasshouse
  • Ramsgate Tunnels
  • Pugin and St Augustine Visitor Centre and Shrine

Thanet villages

  • Minster Abbey, Minster
  • Monkton Nature Reserve, Monkton
  • Powell-Cotton Museum, Birchington
  • Birchington Heritage Trust, Birchington
  • Westgate-on-Sea Town Hall buildings

Share the experience!

Share your adventures with Thanet’s Tourism Team via social media – @VisitThanet for Twitter and Instagram or www.facebook.com/visitthanet using #HODsThanet