A CHANCE to see parts of historic buildings not usually open to the public is on offer this weekend.

Heritage Open Days, an annual event organised by the Civic Trust and local authorities, includes guided and walking tours until Sunday (September 14).

In Maidstone, you can see the reserve collections at Maidstone Museum, and the jail cell and the decorated chambers at the Town Hall. Walks will include Maidstone in the Victorian times starting from Maidstone Museum, Medieval Maidstone starting at the Archbishop’s Palace, a Battle of Maidstone tour starting at the museum, a market, society and county tour, a magical history walk starting at the Millennium Bridge and a historical walk around Lenham.

Other venues will include the Stone Street Club, a Grade II listed building, and Maidstone Library, as well as a selection of churches in the borough.

In Tunbridge Wells borough, properties open include Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, on Saturday and Sunday; High Rocks, a landscaped area of 50ft high rock outcrops popular in the Victorian and Edwardian times; and the Opera House, with guided tours taking visitors to the circle and boxes.

The Register Office in Grove Hill Road; Somerhill, a Jacobean manor house; Salomons, the Southborough home of 1st baronet and fourth Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, Sir David Salomons; and the Town Hall, Museum, Art Gallery and Assembly Hall Theatre will also be open.

Some 20 venues and villages across the borough of Tonbridge and Malling are taking part at the weekend.

On Sunday, there will be partial tours of the Gatehouse at Tonbridge Castle with work by Tonbridge Art Group and Tonbridge Civic Society on show. On the castle lawn there will be face painting from noon and the East Sussex Concert Band will perform between 2pm-4pm. Visual artists Platonic will hold an Art on the Railings exhibition in the Watergate area throughout the weekend.

The Oast Theatre, Tonbridge, will be open on Saturday and Sunday, where there will be an exhibition of designer dresses, while in West Malling, the Baptist Church and St Mary the Virgin Church will open their doors on both days as will St Leonard’s Tower, the Clout Institute, the Pilsdon Christian Community (next to St Mary’s Abbey) and St Mary’s Abbey. Tours of the Abbey’s Grade I listed Norman Tower must be booked in advance by calling 01732 876322.

Members of East Malling Art Group will be exhibiting at St James’ The Great Church throughout the weekend.

Other venues opening their doors include: The Neolithic Tombs, Addington; Ightham Mote; Downderry Nursery, Hadlow; St Michael’s Church, East Peckham; Ditton Heritage Centre; The Leigh Barrier; The Millennium Museum, Snodland; Great Comp Gardens, Platt; Aylesford Priory; St Lawrence’s Church, Mereworth; and St Peter and Paul’s Church,Trottiscliffe.