Heritage Open Days are a fantastic opportunity to visit many historic sites, some not often or usually open to the public, over 10 days in September completely free of charge.
Visit the largest gun battery ever built in Britain at Wanstone Battery on the White Cliffs; see inside the ancient Priory of St Martin at Dover College; meet the conservators of the Maison Dieu in Dover; join a Royal Marines Heritage Walk in Deal; attend a life stories workshop in Deal; visit the iconic Deal Timeball Tower and much, much more.
Dover's Roman Painted House is opening on Saturday 14 September to form part of Dover’s Heritage Open Weekend alongside the Dover Museum & Bronze Age Boat Gallery and the refurbished Dover Maison Dieu.
Sandwich Medieval Centre is running a series of events and demonstrations over both festival weekends. On 8 and 9 September there will be cooking demonstrations with a food historian, meet the Barber surgeon and expert Silkewoman (silk work, weaving and braid). On Thursday 12 and Friday 13 September meet the port clerk and learn how important Sandwich was as a major trading port. On Saturday 14 September 10am to 4pm explore the world of medieval pottery, try your hand at traditional pottery techniques and craft your own medieval tile design. On Sunday 15 September, meet the monier, see how money was made, learn about its origins and have a go at striking your own coin to take home.
See the Heritage Open Days website to find out what else is open in the Dover, Walmer, Deal and Sandwich area on which dates, and for visiting details. Alternatively, there are leaflets at the Visitor Information Centre at Dover Museum.