Historic gems being opened up

Heritage Open Days offer chances to explore buildings and places, many normally closed to the public, for free.West Midlands and Staffordshire buildings include the Buddhavihara Thai Buddhist Temple, Kings Bromley; Friends Meeting House, Stourbridge; Tettenhall College, Wolverhampton and Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Hockley.

People will also take part in the Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust's cycle ride, with participants sponsored for churches they visit and raising money for their local church.

Ann Vink, Heritage Open Days manager at the Civic Trust, said: "What makes Heritage Open Days such a fascinating and unique event are the stories which people choose to tell about their buildings and communities.Visitors are invited into places which are normally private or would charge for entry, to meet people who live or work there, or who know the history of the place better than anyone else.

Among cyclists on the Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust's cycle ride will be the Venerable Fred Trethewey, Archdeacon of Dudley, who will visit churches near his Droitwich home.

Last year Heritage Open Days attracted more than a million visitors – and with 90 per cent of the population living within 30 minutes of a Heritage Open Day event, more people are taking part.

The four-day annual event starts today and runs until Sunday. It is co-ordinated by the Civic Trust, with support from English Heritage and 30,000 volunteers. Heritage Open Days is part of the European Heritage Days initiativeacross 49 countries during September. Log on to www.heritageopendays.org

What's open this weekend

BIRMINGHAM:

Birmingham Back to Backs, 55-63, Hurst Street: .Carefully restored 19th-century courtyard of working people's houses. Saturday: 10am-5pm.

Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row: The cathedral was built in 1725 and has world-famous stained glass windows. Thursday to Sunday 10am-5pm.

Bull Ring Walk: A circular trail through the heart of Birmingham's medieval centre – Bullring, the Manor House, back to back houses, Lady Well. Friday and Saturday: 12.30pm.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, 75-79, Vyse Street, Hockley: Guided tours in costume with jewellery demonstration. Saturday and Sunday tours 12pm, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm.

Warwickshire Masonic Temple, 2, Stirling Road, Edgbaston: The temple is not usually open to the public so it is an opportunity to see inside the building. Thursday: 10am-4pm.

Pen Room Museum, Unit 3, The Argent Centre, 60, Frederick Street, Jewellery Quarter: The museum offers hands-on use of steel pens, quills, typewriters, braille, a switchboard and various writing equipment. Thursday-Saturday: 11am-4pm. Sunday: 1pm-4pm.

Selly Manor, Maple Road, Bournville: A Tudor manor house and medieval hall rescued from demolition and reconstructed in the historic garden village of Bournville. Saturday and Sunday: 2pm-5pm.

Soho House Museum, Soho Avenue, Handsworth: A rare opportunity to access the roof of Soho House to see a wonderful view of Birmingham. Free costumed tours. Meet the Butler. Thursday-Sunday 11.30am-4pm.

Birmingham Tours Canal Walk – meet at the canal shop, Gas St Basin, off Broad St: A guided tour around the Silver Cross – Old Turn Junction, Oozel Street Loop, the Farmer's Locks. Friday and Saturday: 11am.

Bull Street Quaker Meeting House, 40, Bull Street, Birmingham. Quaker Meeting House: Built in 1933 on a city centre site occupied by Quakers since 1703. Sunday: 1pm to 5pm.

Curzon Street Station, New Canal Street: Grade 1 listed building, designed in 1838 by Philip Hardwick, served briefly as the passenger concern of the London and North Western Railway. Saturday tours: 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm.

The Lost Farms of Harborne: Meet St Peter's Church car park, Old Church Road. Guided walk around the lost farms of Harborne. Sunday: 2pm.

Museum Collections Centre, 25, Dollman Street, Nechells: A chance to marvel at the stored collections, not usually on display to the public.Thursday and Friday tours 11am & 1pm. Saturday: 10am to 4.30pm.

New Hall Water Mill, New Hall Drive, Sutton Coldfield: Grade II listed working water mill, situated in New Hall Valley Country Park. Sunday: 10am-4pm.

CANNOCK:

Great Wyrley Methodist Church, Shaws Lane, Cannock: Various static displays depicting the history of the church. Friday and Saturday: 10.30 - 4pm.

DUDLEY:

Haden Hall, Halesowen Road, Cradley Heath: Recently restored home of the Haden family dating from 14th century, completed during 17th century. Sunday: 2pm-5pm.

Open Stores Day, The Black Country Living Museum, Tipton Road: Guided tours take you behind the scenes at the museum's Rolfe St stores. Thursday and Friday tours 10.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm & 3.30pm.

LICHFIELD:

Buddhavihara Thai Buddhist Temple, Eastfield House, King's Bromley: A working monastery where Thai monks will be available to talk about their work. Thursday-Sunday: 9am-9pm.

Erasmus Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield: Former home of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin. Saturday and Sunday 12pm-5pm.

SANDWELL:

Shri Venkateswara Balajii Temple, Oldbury: The largest Hindu Temple in Europe.Thursday and Friday: 9am-12pm & 5pm-8.30pm; Saturday and Sunday: 9am-2pm & 4pm-9pm.

Canal Engine House, Bridge Street, Smethwick: Engine house used by James Watt. Sunday: 11am -2pm Tours: 11am, 12.30pm & 2pm.

Galton Valley Pump House, Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick: Restored late Victorian pumping station. Sunday: 11am-4pm.

Saint Francis of Assisi Parish Church, Freeman Road, Friar Park, Wednesbury: Built by Italian prisoners of war. Saturday 10am-4pm – mass 10am. Sunday: 8am-4pm – mass 8am & 9.45am.

Bishop Asbury Cottage, Newton Road, Great Barr: Boyhood home of Francis Asbury, the first American Methodist bishop. Sunday: 2pm-5pm.

Manor House Chapel, Hall Green Road, West Bromwich: Late 15th century chapel. Sunday: 1230pm to 4pm.

STAFFORD:

Away to Botany Bay, Shire Hall Gallery, Market Square, Stafford: The 18th century's answer to crowded prisons. Saturday: 10am-4pm.

County Buildings, Martin Street, Stafford: Self-guided tours of buildings not normally open to the public.Saturday: 10am-4pm.

St Chad's Church, Greengate Street, Stafford: Norman church with exceptionally fine 12th century stone carvings. Thursday to Sunday 10.30am-4pm - show 2.30pm.

St Mary the Virgin Church, Ingestre, Stafford: Built in 1676 by Walter Chetwynd, Lord of the Manor. Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 2pm-5pm.

St Mary's Church, St Mary's Place, Stafford: A Royal free chapel from Mercian times until the Reformation. Thursday to Saturday: 10.30am-3pm. Sunday: 9am- 3pm.

Hands on Arms and Armour at Stafford Castle, Newport Road, Stafford: Stafford Castle was first built by William the Conqueror and offers dressing up for all the family. Sunday: 10am to 5pm.

Hands-on Costume at The Ancient High House, Greengate Street, Stafford: The Ancient High House has over 400 years of history and is England's largest timber framed town house. Saturday: 10am-4pm.

STOURBRIDGE:

Friends Meeting House, Scott's Road, Stourbridge: A 310-year-old Quaker Meeting House. Sunday: 11.15am- 3pm. Talk: 3pm.

Lye & Wollescote Cemetery Chapels, Cemetery Road, Lye: Tours of the Grade II listed pair of cemetery chapels, built in 1879. Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm.

Kinver Holy Austin Rock Houses, Compton Road, Kinver, Stourbridge: Run by the National Trust. Saturday: 2pm- 4pm.

WALSALL:

St Mary's on the Mount Catholic Church, Glebe Street, Walsall: First post-reformation catholic church in the Midlands. Thursday: 10.30am- 6.30pm Tours: 11am & 3pm. Friday: 10am- 6pm. Saturday: 11am-6pm. Tours 11am, 1pm & 3pm. Sunday: 12.30pm- 6pm. Tours 2pm & 4pm.

St Paul's Church, The Crossing at St Paul's, Walsall: Victorian Gothic church by John Pearson. Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 9am-5pm.

The Locksmith's House, 54, New Road, Willenhall: Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Victorian house and enjoy a guided tour.Saturday: 12pm-4pm.

WOLVERHAMPTON:

Beckminster Methodist Church Open Days, Birches Barn Road, Penn Fields: Guided tours of the church. Thursday: Lecture 7.30pm. Friday and Saturday: 10am-12pm & 2pm to 4pm-Friday travel show at 7.30pm and Saturday concert at 7.30pm. Sunday: 2pm-4pm – service 10.30am.

Darlington Street Methodist Church: Building in Romanesque style with two towers and impressive dome. Saturday: 10am-4pm.

Dr Ambedkar Buddhist Centre, Buddha Vihara, Upper Zoar Street, Penn Fields: Talk about Buddhism or sit and meditate in the Shrine Room. Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm.

Ek-Niwas, 71-72 Dudley Road: Internationally recognised multi-faith place of worship. Visitors will be asked to remove their shoes and cover their head. Thursday to Sunday: 9am-8pm.

Guru Nanak Sat-Sang Sikh Temple, 198-204, Cannock Road: The oldest Sikh temple in Wolverhampton, opened in 1966. Thursday: 11am-2pm - tour 11am. Sunday 10am-1pm.

Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Duncan Street, off Sedgley Street: Visit one of the largest Sikh temples in Europe. Visitors will be asked to remove their shoes and cover their heads. Thursday- Sunday: 11am-2pm – Thursday tour 11am.

Madina Mosque, 213, Newhampton Road East: A special tour is being provided of this mosque, including an Islamic exhibition. Participants will be required to remove their shoes at the mosque's entrance and cover their arms, legs and heads. Friday and Sunday 1.15pm-4pm.

Shree Krishan Mandir, 123, Penn Road: Marvel at the welcoming atmosphere and beautiful interior of this traditional Hindu temple Thursday to Sunday: 9.30am-12.30pm & 5.30pm to 8pm.

St Peter's Church, Lich Gates, Queen Square: The Collegiate Church of St Peter has stood at the highest point of Wolverhampton for more than a thousand years. Thursday-Saturday: 10am-4pm. Sunday services 10am-12.30pm & 6pm-7.30pm.

Tettenhall College, Wood Road, Tettenhall: Tettenhall Towers is the former home of Lt Col Thomas Thorneycroft. Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm.

Wolverhampton Central Mosque, 197, Waterloo Road: Guided tours around the first purpose built mosque in Wolverhampton. Visitors will be asked to cover their head, arms and legs and remove shoes. Sunday: 10am-12pm.