Starting out as an occasion when places of historical interest, not usually accessible to the public, were literally opened up, HOD has evolved into a broader celebration of heritage rooted in our built and natural environment. Although a national event, supported by the National Trust, the activities themselves are generally highly localised, and a wonderful opportunity to explore the traditional, and often unexpected, heritage highlights of a locality.

In Preston over the last several years, HODs has become a fixture in the heritage calendar. Previously, just a few places took part but, since the last Preston Guild in 2012, there has been a concerted effort to make more of the festival across the city. The principal historical organisations and institutions, combined into the Preston Heritage Network, alongside volunteers and supporters from across the community, have come together to create an increasingly diverse and popular event. With financial support from several partners, especially the City Council, the University of Central Lancashire and a number of funded heritage projects, we have been able to produce a leaflet that compiles a guide to the various offers. The leaflet has helped to consolidate and promote HODs as a city-wide event. In its first year 2013, 12 places were listed; for this year we have at least 27 different events – nearly back up to pre-Covid level.

Of too many quirky highlights, one of my favourites was the former home furnishings store, PC Carpets. Until it relocated, the high street shop was housed in the premises of a former Building Society where, on the top floor, an elaborately panelled boardroom was still in place. Each year, over a hundred people climbed three flights of stairs through the shop to view the splendid, Art-Nouveau tiled directors’ bathroom. Heritage Open Days more recently have had a special theme and last year it was ‘Edible England’. Distinctive contributions included the ‘Hot Potato and Parched Pea Tram’, a fixture on the central Flag market where traditional Lancashire delicacies have been enjoyed for decades. A virtual walking tour of foodie heritage sites also took in Preston’s fast-food claim to fame as the location of the first KFC outlet in the UK.

As one would expect, the principal heritage sites in Preston, including the Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Museum of Lancashire, Lancashire Archives, and Lancashire Infantry Museum have been prominent, hosting special activities or offering access to rarely-seen collections. For example, a special feature from the Harris Museum has been visits to the ‘Egyptian Gallery’, an astounding series of murals high up on a balcony in the museum’s lantern space. Although accessible on bookable guided tours, the drop-in visits provided for HODs saw long queues forming to gain access. Several of Preston’s churches offer tours, notably into the vertiginous spire of St Walburge’s, the tallest parish church spire in the country. Preston City and Lancashire County councils, both based in the city, have been generous supporters, especially in opening usually restricted sites. Probably the most popular is the Cleansing Department, where the Victorian buildings now house the modern refuse collection and street-cleaning equipment – even rubbish heritage is endlessly fascinating!

Preparations are well in hand for this year’s festival, which has as its theme ‘Astounding Inventions’. Highlights are sure to include an exhibition of the Gibbs’ Heliochronometer, presented by Preston and District Astronomical Society at the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory. Gibbs was a public astronomer who managed the council-operated observatory. In 1906, he took out a patent for a device that could accurately determine the time anywhere in the World from observations of the Sun. With a commercial partner, W. R. Pilkington, they produced heliochronometers for exploration purposes, one being presented to Commodore Peary for his expedition to the North Pole. Another astounding invention returning this year is the Kennington Primary School ‘Bubble’, a prototype fully structural plastic building designed to be mass produced for schools.

As we mark ten years of promoting Preston Heritage Open Days we hope, once again, to highlight the wonderful heritage of our city. The imposing and prestigious, the offbeat and quirky, the sites that would never usually be regarded as ‘heritage’, all have a place and a value. We hope that visitors old and new will enjoy the special events and activities on offer, and perhaps be inspired to keep a look out for the ordinary, everyday, astonishing and astounding history that surrounds us wherever we are.

Find us on Twitter @PrestonHODs and our website www.prestonheritageopendays.org

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the British Association for Local History (BALH). Any content provided by our contributors is of their own opinion and is not intended to malign any individual, group, organisation, or entity.