aboutDereham annouces free events for Heritage Open Days

Nine heritage sites and activities will be involved in this year's festival of history and culture - a huge increase on the two Dereham sites which were part of the event last year. 

The group AboutDereham is encouraging people to learn more about the town by getting involved in the free event from September 8 to 17.

Mike Webb, AboutDereham's chairman, said: “Rev’d Canon Paul Cubitt from St Nicholas Church suggested to aboutDereham that more organisations should get involved this year after only two had done so in 2022. 

“Nine of our member organisations have put together an impressive programme and Dereham warmly welcomes residents and visitors to Heritage Open Days.”

AboutDereham Chairman, Mike Webb (Image: Mike Webb)

Attractions will include an exhibition about the 18th Century poet William Cowper at St Nicholas Church, and people will also be able to see inside the bell tower, which was once used to house French prisoners of war. 

The Mid Norfolk Family History Society will help people research their family history both in mid Norfolk and beyond. 

Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse will be open for visitors and running activities, and County School Station will open areas not normally seen by the public. The Wensum Valley Miniature Railway will also be running.

Bishop Bonner's Cottage Museum, which has survived town fires and a Zeppelin raid, will go on show, and Dereham's 'fiery dragon' locomotive will be coming and going from the Mid Norfolk Railway station.

There will also be guided walks around Dereham, and the Trinity Methodist Church will have a display of Wesleyan history.

Dereham Windmill is one of the locations included in the Heritage Open Days events (Image: Archant)

READ MORE - Norfolk Heritage Open Days 2023 to feature 200 free events

The Grade II listed Dereham Windmill will also be open for visitors.

To find out more, visit aboutdereham.org/hods-2023.