Save the date for the first ever Gnosall Heritage Open Day

Gnosall will be celebrating Heritage Open Days for the first time by opening the door of its smallest but most intriguing building – the Lock-up, and providing informative talks, walks and searches of local buildings and history – all free of charge.

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, involving thousands of local volunteers and organisations. Every year in September it brings people together to celebrate their heritage, community, and history. Stories are told, traditions explored, and histories brought to life. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.

Gnosall Heritage Day Festival 2025 – free to explore.

This year, in the first of what Gnosall Parish Council hope will become an annual event, the Council, in conjunction with the Gnosall Heritage Group, will be hosting two main events along with a wealth of additional activities for residents and visitors to enjoy. With the diverse range of self-guided walks, talks, exhibitions and more on offer, there’s no doubt that everyone will find something of interest.

This year’s theme is ‘Architecture’ and people are invited to delve into the rich tapestry of Gnosall’s buildings and heritage, and discover the history of their properties, families and more.

The Festival includes:

• The Old Lock-Up
   10am to 12.30pm, Sellman Street, Gnosall
  Discover what it was to be incarcerated in 1800’s rural England and explore the history behind Gnosall’s smallest building.
  

  Discover what it was to be incarcerated in 1800’s rural England and explore the history behind Gnosall’s smallest building.

  

• Gnosall Parish Family and Local History Search
  10.30am to 4pm, Grosvenor Centre, High Street Gnosall
  Delve into the past with the aid of Gnosall Heritage Group volunteers  Take a look at some of the historical documents of the parish including census documents, the 1910 Finance Act maps and field books and 1880 Parish Map
• Self-Guided Walks of Gnosall & Gnosall Heath
  Available from the Grosvenor Centre, and the Lock-up
  Discover the fascinating architecture and history of some of Gnosall’s oldest buildings with Gnosall Heritage Groups interactive self-guided walk and quiz.
• Digital Self-Guided Walk of St. Lawrence Church Graveyard
  St. Lawrence Churchyard
  Explore some of the interesting and unique memorials in the church graveyard. This walk requires a smart phone and is accessible via the QR codes on posters around the church grounds.
• Talk on History of St. Lawrence Church
  St. Lawrence Church times to be confirmed
  Discover the rich history behind the 11^th century Grade I Listed Norman church with volunteers from the Friends of St. Lawrence Church.

All activities are free and children’s activities will be available in the Grosvenor Centre to keep them entertained whilst you do your family history search.

Jennifer Marshall, Chief Officer of Gnosall Parish Council said: “Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, running for 10 days every September. The festival offers members of the public free access to heritage venues, events and activities and I’m delighted that Gnosall is able to take part in this event for the first time. We hope to make this an annual event and look to expand next year to include more fantastic heritage sites.”

The Lock-Up on Sellman Street will be open from 10am to 12.30pm and the Gnosall Family and Local History Search will be in the Grosvenor Centre from 10.30am to 4pm. Free parking is available at the Grosvenor Centre, which is a short walk through the St. Lawrence Church grounds to Sellman Street.

The self-guided walks will be available at both locations and the Churchyard walk will be available at St. Lawrence Church via QR code.

Visit our website for more information, https://gnosallparishcouncil.gov.uk/events-list/

You can find out more about the Heritage Open Days annual event at their website  https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/