By All the events happening in Grimsby and Cleethorpes for Heritage Open Days festival
September is almost here – which means Grimsby and Cleethorpes will be hosting an array of events as part of the annual Heritage Open Days festival.
England’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days brings together more than 2,000 local people and organisations, plus thousands of volunteers.
There are two themes running this year – a national theme and a local theme.
The national theme is “Edible England”, which explores the past, present and future of our culinary heritage and culture.
The theme specific to Lincolnshire is “Voices of Lincolnshire – Stories Unheard”, which aims to celebrate the many voices of Lincolnshire with a focus on the stories that people may not have heard that have contributed to its heritage and culture.
A number of events are happening across North East Lincolnshire this year, including some online events.
Cleethorpes
- Cleethorpes Town Hall will be hosting the “Fun, Food and Fishy Tales” exhibition in the main Chamber room on 11 September. Open from 10am to 4pm, you’ll have the chance to explore the food and sweets that have delighted generations, from cockles to candyfloss and more, and browse old photographs, artefacts and recipes.
Grimsby
- Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre will be offering a 10 per cent discount on admission on 17 and 18 September. In addition to the award-winning exhibits in the Centre, there will also be rope knot and splicing demonstrations during the two days.
- Grimsby Town Hall will be open to the public on both 17 and 18 September from 10am to 4pm. Locals will have the chance to explore the Bremerhaven Room, Crosland Suite and the Council Chamber, as well as see the civic regalia and silverware and meet the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire and his Deputy.
- There will also be free entry into the Time Trap museum at Grimsby Town Hall on 17 and 18 September. Treasures from the archives will be on show, and there will be displays by Great Grimsby branch of the Lincolnshire Family History Society, Grimsby Photographic Society, and the North Lincs Art Society. Also at the town hall those days, the Lincolnshire Family History Society will be available to help you with your family history research.
Villages and Towns
- On 18 September from 10am to 4pm, St Nicolas Church in Great Coates will be open to the public, where locals will have the chance to explore the medieval Grade I listed structure and listen to the stories from the people of Great Coates.
- On Saturday 11 September at 11am, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will be doing an in-person tour of Scartho Road Cemetery, which contains more than 500 First and Second World War burials. Book your place through Eventbrite here.
Online & Self-Guided Events
- A Cleethorpes Heritage Trail will be available on the ‘Love Exploring App’, with support from the Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society. You can download the free app to most smartphones. As well as taking you around some of the key points in the town, the app will show old photographs at various points of the trail, so people can visualise how the townscape has changed.
- This year’s Kasbah event will be held online to make sure that the port remains Covid-safe. You can book online through Eventbrite to pre-recorded tours of the Kasbah, presentations and videos of former Ice Factory workers talking about what it was like to work there. Book your space here.
