Posted with permission from admin. The weekend 11-14 September is Heritage Open Days 2008 across the county and country. For details of events and places opening their doors (for free?) in Essex, check out http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/, then select EVENT DIRECTORY from along the top. There looks to be more than 70 events just in Essex ... Stock Tower Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000596E> Billericay Sunday: 1400-1700 Alderford Water Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000592E> Braintree Sunday: 1400-1700 Finchingfield Post Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000594E> Braintree Sunday: 1400-1700 All Saints' Church <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000579E> Brentwood Saturday: 1000-1800 Sunday: 1100-1700 All Saints' Church, Hutton <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000578E> Brentwood Thursday: 1400-1700 Friday: 1400-1700 Saturday: 1000-1300 & 1600-1700 Sunday: 1430-1630 Mountnessing Post Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000595E> Brentwood Sunday: 1400-1700 Thorrington Tide Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000597E> Brightlingsea Sunday: 1400-1700 The Gardens of Creeksea Place <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007660E> Burnham on Crouch Sunday: Tours 1200 & 1600 The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007733E> Burnham on Crouch Saturday: Tour 1000 & 1200 & 1500 Sunday: Tour 1000 & 1200 & 1500 Pleshey Castle <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000635E> Chelmsford Sunday: Guided tours 1400, 1500, 1600 Shire Hall <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD006492E> Chelmsford Sunday: 1000-1600 EcoDIY <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007769E> Clacton Thursday: 1400-1800 Friday: 1400-1800 Saturday: 1000-1700 Sunday: 1000-1700 Coggeshall Grange Barn Open Day <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005913E> Coggeshall Saturday: 1400-1700 Paycocke's <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD008380E> Coggeshall Saturday: 1400-1700 'Structures With Style' - Guided Tour of Colchester's Architecture <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007167E> Colchester Saturday: Tour 1500 Audley Chapel <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007182E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1400-1700 Audley Chapel <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007182E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1400-1700 Bourne Mill Open Day <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005911E> Colchester Saturday: 1200-1700 Sunday: 1400-1700 Colchester History Alive! Performances <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007170E> Colchester Saturday: Performances 1030 & 1130 & 1230 & 1400 & 1500 & 1600 Colchester Town Hall <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007169E> Colchester Saturday: Tours 1000 & 1130 & 1245 Sunday: Tours 1000 & 1130 & 1245 Colne Light Ship <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007225E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1800 Headgate Theatre <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007187E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1600 Highwoods Country Park Heritage Walk <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007219E> Colchester Sunday: Walk 1030 & 1400 Hythe Community Centre - heritage day <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007229E> Colchester Saturday: 1200-1600 Lexden Tumulus <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007194E> Colchester Saturday: 1400-1700 Sunday: 1400-1700 Mercury Theatre <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007378E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1200 MV Lotte <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007233E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1800 NADFAS at Hollytrees Museum <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007185E> Colchester Saturday: 1400-1600 Sunday: 1400-1600 Peake's House <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007820E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1600 Quaker Meeting House <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007354E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1600, Children's activity 1030-1230 & 1315-1515 Roman Theatre Remains <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007165E> Colchester Saturday: 0945-1630 Sunday: 1400-1630 Sail Barge 'Fertile' <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007224E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1100 & 1300-1700 (River trip 1100-1300) Sailing Barge 'Dawn' <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007223E> Colchester Saturday: 1200-1700 Sherman's open day <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007575E> Colchester Saturday: 1400-1700 St Botolph's Church and Priory <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007196E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1400-1600 St Helen's Chapel <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007173E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1300 & 1400-1630 Sunday: 1400-1630 St John's Abbey Gatehouse <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007186E> Colchester Saturday: 1030-1600 Sunday: 1400-1600 St Leonard at the Hythe Church <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007352E> Colchester Saturday: 1100-1500 Sunday: 1430-1630 St Martin's Church <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007184E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1700 Sunday: 1000-1700 St Mary-at-the-Walls Church <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007221E> Colchester Sunday: 1200-1600, Tours 1300 & 1400 & 1500 The Dolphin House <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007231E> Colchester Saturday: 1200-1500 Thorington Hall Open Day <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005915E> Colchester Saturday: 1030-1700 Tymperleys Clock Museum <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007163E> Colchester Saturday: 1000-1300 & 1400-1630 Davy Down Riverside Park <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000644E> Grays Sunday: 1200-1700 Aythorpe Roding Post Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000593E> Great Dunmow Sunday: 1400-1700 Stebbing Old Friends Meeting House <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000641E> Great Dunmow Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1600 Colne Valley Postal History Museum <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000634E> Halstead Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1500 Harlowbury Chapel and Garden <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000640E> Harlow Sunday: 1100-1630 Guildhall <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD004845E> Harwich Saturday: 1430-1630 Sunday: 1430-1630 Harwich Electric Palace Cinema <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000613E> Harwich Saturday: 1000-1400 Sunday: 1000-1400 All Saints' Vicarage <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000614E> Maldon Sunday: 1200-1600 Beeleigh Rural Walkabout and Beeleigh Abbey Grounds <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005660E> Maldon Saturday: Walk 1415 & 1545 Sunday: Walk 1415 & 1545 Beeleigh Water & Steam Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000616E> Maldon Saturday: 1000-1700 Sunday: 1000-1700 Canal Boat Shuttle Between Maldon and Beeleigh <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005778E> Maldon Saturday: On the hour from Tescos 1100-1600; On the half hour from Beeleigh Lock 1130-1630 Sunday: On the hour from Tescos 1100-1600; On the half hour from Beeleigh Lock 1130-1630 Maeldune Heritage Centre <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000620E> Maldon Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1600 Maldon District Museum <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007174E> Maldon Saturday: 1400-1700 Sunday: 1400-1700 Maldon Riverside History Walk <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000623E> Maldon Saturday: Walk 1100 & 1400 Sunday: Walk 1100 & 1400 Maldon's Medieval Market <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007330E> Maldon Saturday: 1000-1600 Old Church of St Peter, Wickham Bishops <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007360E> Maldon Sunday: 1100-1600 St Giles Leper Hospital <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD003253E> Maldon Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1600 St Peter's Old Church <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000648E> Maldon Sunday: 1100-1600 The Heritage Play <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD003557E> Maldon Saturday: 1630 for 1700 start The Moot Hall <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000628E> Maldon Saturday: Tour 1100 & 1215 & 1330 & 1445 & 1600 Sunday: Tour 1100 & 1215 & 1330 & 1445 & 1600 The Museum of Power <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD003249E> Maldon Saturday: 1000-1700 Sunday: 1000-1700 The White Canon's Walk <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005675E> Maldon Saturday: All day Sunday: All day Thomas Plume's Library <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000629E> Maldon Saturday: 1000-1200 & 1400-1600 Sunday: 1400-1600 Proofing House <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000636E> Purfleet Thursday: 1000-1630 Sunday: 1000-1630 The Royal Magazine for Gunpowder <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD000637E> Purfleet Thursday: 1000-1630 Sunday: 1000-1630 Tilbury Fort <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007473E> Tilbury Saturday: 1000 - 1700 Tilbury Riverside Trail <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD006494E> Tilbury Saturday: 1000-1700 Tours TBC Blue Mills Mill <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD005663E> Witham Saturday: Tour 1030 & 1230 & 1430 Sunday: Tour 1030 & 1230 & 1430 St Mary's Chapel <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007305E> Witham Saturday: 1000-1600 The Church of St Nicholas <http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/directory/HOD007306E> Witham Saturday: 1000-1600 Sunday: 1000-1600 One which caught my eye was PLESHEY CASTLE, usually only open by prior appointment. Unfortunately, I'm at a family gathering at another Heritage Open Day special in another county so I will miss out on it again :-( I'm sure that there is something for everyone wherever you are based (within England) Feel free to pass on the link :-) Heather