Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history & culture, taking place every September and involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Stories are told, traditions explored and histories brought to life. The festival provides members of the general public with the chance to see usually hidden places and try out brand-new experiences. And what’s more, it’s all absolutely FREE...

The event returns this year from Friday 12 to Sunday 21 September - and here are just some of the venues you can explore around Staffordshire...

Claymills Victorian Pumping Station
Meadow Lane, Stretton, Burton upon Trent, DE13 0DA

Operating 24 hours a day from 1885 to 1970 - pumping effluent from the Burton upon Trent beer industry - Claymills is one of the most complete and fully restored pumping stations in the UK.

Heritage Open Days visitors will be able to experience the grandeur of four beam engines, the original boilers, and more than 30 engines, exactly as they were used on site.

The station will open in the evening on both open days, providing visitors with the opportunity to understand what it would have been like to work on the night shift.

An introductory talk will be followed by guided, and self-guided, tours.

Saturday 13 & Saturday 20 September | 8pm - 10pm, pre-booking required

The Dudson Centre
Hope Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 5DD

The bottle kiln is a famous element of the Stoke-on-Trent skyline - and there aren’t many original bottle ovens left to see. But, in the heart of Hanley stands the original Dudson kiln, housing the Dudson Collection.

Following the Dudson factory’s relocation in 1994, the site was kindly donated to the voluntary sector in Stoke-on-Trent. It is now a thriving community resource centre, home to many local charities and voluntary organisations, and includes a cafe for all to enjoy.

During the Heritage Open Days, visitors will take a trip back in time to find out about the centres restoration, the impromptu archaeological digs, and the grand opening by Queen Elizabeth II.

Friday 19 - Saturday 20 September | 10am - 2pm, no pre-booking required

­Staffordshire Archives & Heritage
Unit G, Beacon Business Park, Weston Road, Stafford, ST18 0WL

Take time to look behind the scenes and view the fascinating stored collections on a guided tour; Staffordshire social history, costume, art, and the nationally significant carriage collection will all be available to view.

Staff and volunteers will be on hand to highlight treasures, tell you about their conservation and heritage roles, direct you around the site and answer your questions.

Saturday 13 September | pre-booking required

Tamworth Castle Grounds
Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7NA

Enjoy a fun, free, hands-on clay workshop in the Tamworth Castle grounds, inspired by the striking architecture of the castle.

Guided by local potters, you’ll design and make your own unique clay creation, drawing from the castle’s most iconic features. Once finished, take your creation home as a special keepsake - but before you go, capture the moment in the castle-themed selfie frame.

Saturday 13 September | 11am - 4pm, no pre-booking required

V&A Wedgwood Collection
V&A Wedgwood Collection, Wedgwood Drive, Stoke-on-Trent, ST12 9ER

Take a look behind the scenes of the Unpacking Project at V&A Wedgwood Collection with a guided tour around the collection storage space.

The team are currently in the process of unpacking and cataloguing all stored collections of more than 65,000 objects. Visitors can learn more about how they care for the collection, and the creativity behind the objects that they’re unwrapping.

Thursday 18 & Friday 19 September | 11am - 12pm, pre-booking required

For further information about Heritage Open Days across the region, visit the website at heritageopendays.org.uk

Check out other regions -

BIRMINGHAM

WOLVERHAMPTON AND BLACK COUNTRY

SHROPSHIRE

WARWICKSHIRE

WORCESTERSHIRE