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History is under your feet at Betteshanger Country Park near Deal. Production ended at the former colliery in 1989, and for Heritage Open Days, on Sunday, September 10, there will be a mine of information on all things coal.
Betteshanger Park and Kent Mining Museum will host the day dedicated to celebrating the Kent Coalfield spanning both sides of the site, with Almond House, the colliery’s administrative headquarters, open to the public for the first time since mining ended in 1989.
Parts of the mining museum’s collection will be on display and past miners will be sharing their memories. There will be guided walks around the colliery pit head site every hour from 11am to 2pm, which are free but need to be booked in advance.
At Betteshanger Park, visitors can dig further into Kent’s coal mining past with drop-in crafts, including a mini-miner dress up, badge making and designing lamps, headgear and other familiar miners’ equipment.
As it was the colliery spoil heap, the park is bursting with fossils, and visitors can discover their inner palaeontologist, with expert help from local geologist Andy Temple, of The Geologists Association, Kent Geologists Group and Geoconservation Kent. Sessions are free but time slots need to be booked.
The new feature-length film, A Century of Coal, produced by Peter Williams, will be playing throughout the day, giving a glimpse into life on the Kent Coalfield, and the impact felt by the local communities when the collieries closed.
The Colliery Sunset Series will feature performances isnpried by the coalfield in festival tipis. They include The Weight by David Burridge and Martin Riley, a compelling short play including live music from Betteshanger Brass band, and Coal, in which Natasha Douglas and Lord Gawain Douglas, together with Nicola Vella and Phil Self, take their audience on an interactive journey that delves into the history of mining and the mining communities in Deal and surrounding areas.
Tickets for the Colliery Sunset Series performances are £3 and £1 for children and seniors, with proceeds benefiting the Kent Mining Heritage Foundation.
For all details of the day, and more about the park, go to betteshanger-park.co.uk
Now in its 10th year, the Tonbridge Castle medieval fair will be held to coincide with Heritage Open Days on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10 between 10am and 5pm.
There will be sights and sounds of the 15th century, including medieval re-enactments, men-at-arms telling stories of past battles and musical minstrels, plus the antics of Punch and Judy and Bosco the jester.
Visitors can try archery, become a knight for the day, go to juggling workshops and tuck into a hog roast. There will be free castle tours and art on show.
Tonbridge Town Team will be hosting their fifth dragon boat race on the River Medway at the foot of the castle on Sunday, September 10, with heats starting at 9.30am and the final at around 4.30pm. For more information visit tmbc.gov.uk
The Oast Theatre in Tonbridge will also open to the public on Saturday, September 9 between 10am and 4pm, with displays of some of the costumes an designer outfits, plus a musical evening to follow from 8pm to 11pm. Tickets are £7.50. To book call 01732 368311.
Maidstone has a colourful history shaped by battles, revolts, mad priests, industrialists and Victorian benefactors – and you can discover more about all of them at events over all four days.
There will be a rare opportunity to look around the Archbishop’s Palace – originally built for the Archbishops of Canterbury – on Thursday, September 7 between 9.30am and 5pm. Free tours will be held at 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm and 4pm for a maximum of 20 people and need to be booked in advance.
Next door, All Saints’ Church will open from 10am to 4pm on all four days, when there will be an exhibition by the Maidstone Historical Society about the town’s past.
Teddies across west Kent will be taking a deep breath and taking the plunge in the Teddy Bear Abseil, which costs £2 per teddy – just bring yours along and if he doesn’t bottle it, he’ll get a bravery certificate. The event, between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, September 9, is in aid of All Saints’ Restoration and Development Trust.
Join a free guided walk in Mote Park on Friday, September 8. Spaces are limited to 20 and need to be booked in advance. Also on Friday, September 8, you can go behind the scene at Maidstone Museum. Places are free but also need to be booked.
Other historic buildings open include the Town Hall, built in 1763 and now the official residence of the Mayor, with tours on Friday, September 8, St Michael & All Angels Church in Tonbridge Road, which is open on Saturday, September 9 and will have stained glass crafts for children, the Unitarian Church in Market Buildings, which is open on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9 and Aylesford Priory’s Gatehouse, which is open from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, September 10.
You can also go behind the scenes at the Kent History & Library Centre to discover the archives with free tours on Saturday, September 9 at 10am, 1pm and 3pm, to be booked in advance. All events are free and run almost entirely by volunteers. To book go to visitmaidstone.com
What’s behind the picturesque facade of the historic Playhouse Whitstable?
The theatre in Whitstable High Street will hold an open morning on Saturday, September 9, as part of Heritage Open Days.
See behind the scenes of a working theatre, and find out how sound, lighting and backstage work, and how make-up and special effects are created. Pop by between 9.30am and 1pm for a tour, a coffee or a chat with members of the Lindley Players. For more about the theatre and its players, visit playhousewhitstable.co.uk
DETAILS
Heritage Open Days 2017 will run from Thursday, September 7 to Sunday, September 10.
For details, and to search for an event near you, go to heritageopendays.org.uk
