Birmingham Heritage Week will take over the city again this September, with over 100 events giving visitors the chance to discover more about the city’s vibrant and rich heritage.
Running from Thursday 7th to Sunday 17th September, the third annual Birmingham Heritage Week will see many of the city’s best historical venues and hidden gems open for special events – many of which will be free!
The wide variety of events taking place will give local residents and tourists alike the opportunity to explore Birmingham’s medieval history, its proud industrial heritage, the development of the city in the 20th Century, the history of women in the city, as well as Birmingham’s long history as a centre for migration and its diverse population.
Throughout the week visitors will be able to walk in the footsteps of celebrated artist Edward Burne-Jones on the Positively Birmingham Walking Tours, enjoy locally brewed ale at the Blakesley Hall Ale Festival, hop on the Big Brum Buz to discover Birmingham’s conservation areas with the Birmingham Civic Society, and explore how the Sikh community travelled and settled in Birmingham and the Black Country at the Nishkam Civic Association’s exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
Other highlights include open days at New Hall Water Mill, Aston Hall and the Newman Brothers Coffin Works, the In:Site Festival of contemporary crafts, a trail of some of the finest Georgian and Victorian architecture in Lozells and Handsworth, live music in the courtyard at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, tours of Birmingham Cathedral and the Birmingham Oratory, and a family workshop at The Pen Museum.
The week will also see celebrated Birmingham Historian Professor Carl Chinn deliver a lively talk at KPMG about the diverse heritage of Birmingham’s people.
Professor Carl Chinn said, “In a world of continual state of change and individualism, finding out about our shared history brings together all the peoples of Birmingham through encouraging an understanding of what we have in common both with each other and with those who came before us. Whoever we are and whatever our origins, Birmingham Heritage Week provides an opportunity to highlight one vital constant in our history: Birmingham was made by all of us and Birmingham belongs to all of us.”
For the first time Mrs History will run a local heritage project for schools as part of Birmingham Heritage Week, offering pupils the chance to explore history on their doorstep and become history ambassadors.
Birmingham Heritage Week coincides with this year’s Heritage Open Days celebrations, which run from 7 to 10 September, and is the UK’s largest heritage festival.
For full listings and more details about everything happening during the week visit birminghamheritageweek.co.uk or find out more on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @BHeritageWeek
