Heritage Open Days 2022 (Click to view brochure)
80 Years
Evacuated to Malvern from the south coast in extreme haste, the scientists from the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE) changed Malvern and had a major impact on the outcome of World War II.
Saturday 20th and Sunday 11th September at 2pm – Guided Walk – 2 hours
Meet at Great Malvern Station and your guide will show you where the scientists worked and what they did in Malvern College. The walk of about 2 miles, ends at Malvern Theatres and passes many requisitioned buildings along the route. Book via TicketSource.
Wednesday 14th September at 7pm – Two Talks – Lewis Lecture Theatre, Malvern College
How World War II was won from the Playing Fields of Malvern
This talk will explain how and why radar was crucial to winning World War II and what the factors were that proved so important.
Surprising Inventions from the Malvern Scientists
Post WWII the scientists stayed in Malvern. This talk will tell you about many of their ideas and inventions, post war.
Book via TicketSource.
Friday 9th, Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th September: 10am to 4pm Pop-Up Exhibition: Coach House Theatre.
Inventions from Malvern’s Boffins
A pop-up exhibition telling the extraordinary history of science and technology from Malvern that we all take for granted today. A member of MRATHS will be on hand to answer your question between 2 and 4pm.
National Gardens Scheme
Nimrod, 35, Alexandra Road Malvern WR14 1HE, margaret.cross@ifdev.net 01684 569 019
Railway Exhibition, Great Malvern Station
As a result of the current renovation of the station, the No 1 Platform Waiting Room is now open as a display room for railway history and memorabilia.
During HODs Week, the waiting room should be open during normal station operating hours, ie when the bookingoffice is manned which is Monday to Friday, 7am to 6 pm.
Coach House Theatre, Open 9th, 10th, 11th and 18th of September, all from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
“A fabulous facility is the Coach House theatre where they produce unique opportunities for the local community.”
We seat between 80-100 in a state of the art theatre. We offer great weekly, daily and half-daily rates and are flexible to your needs wherever possible. We can offer lighting and sound technicians if required and our team of dedicated volunteers staff the front of house for your performance at no extra cost.
Our tickets are sold through the Malvern Theatres website which has a very high hit rate due to its pre-West End tour programme, ensuring your production details will be seen by a national and international audience. We ensure your publicity is given prominence in our theatre and immediately outside it, and we can help with promotion in the town if given notice. https://www.coachhousetheatre.co.uk
Upton-on-Severn Museum
Tudor House Museum open at its usual times….Thursday, Friday, Sunday 1.30pm to 4.30pm (last admissions 4.00pm) and Saturdays 10.30am to 4.30pm (last admission 4.00pm).
Free admission (donations welcome.)
www.thetudorhousemuseumupton.org
Upton-on-Severn Town Walks
Town Walks can be booked in advance – Free at 2.00pm on 9th, 10th and 11th September. The tel no is 01684 438820.
Ripple Church
Ripple Parish Church will be open during the week.
This church has an intriguing and amusing set of carved misericords featuring country pursuits at different times of the year. They are reputed to be the best set of misericords in the country.
Bands in the Park
Bands in the Park is a free event that that runs every Sunday throughout the summer months in Priory Park from 2.30pm – 4.30pm and offers a wide variety of music for everyone to enjoy from Blues, Jazz, Country, Folk, Light Rock to Traditional Brass, whilst taking in the beautiful backdrop of the Malvern Hills.
Tenbury Museum
Housed in a small Victorian school, Goff’s School, Tenbury Museum aims to give a flavour of the development of the market town and district of Tenbury Wells, allegedly described by Queen Victoria as her ‘Little Town in the Orchard’.
The museum’s eclectic artefacts collections relating to the town’s development including some ‘astounding inventions’, will be used in temporary exhibitions in the museum, public library and the historic Pump rooms. Hands-on activities for children.
Opening times:
Museum:
- Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th: 11:00am – 4:00pm
- Monday 12th – Friday 16th: 11:00am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 17th: 11:00am – 4:00pm
- Sunday 18th: 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Pump Rooms:
- Saturday 10th and 17th: 11:00am – 4:00pm
- Sundays 11th and 18th:11:00am – 3:00pm
Malvern Museum
William Casson, a Malvern Link coachbuilder in the 1870s and ’80s enjoyed a national reputation for his craftsmanship and inventions. In 1890 his contribution to the development of his craft and all his achievements were formally acknowledged when the Worshipful Company of Coach and Harness Makers of London awarded him the rare joint honour of the freedom of their Company, as well as the freedom of the City of London.
William Casson was best known for two major/astounding inventions:
- the Malvern Stanhope gig which he adapted to allow a passenger to alight from the front or rear
- the Casson brake, which controlled the speed of the carriage by applying the brake to the rear wheel which caused less discomfort to the horse
Opening times Tues. Wed, Thursday, Sat, Sunday 1030 – 5.00pm Priory Gatehouse, Abbey Road, Malvern WR14 3ES
Commemorative Plaque
The Lees: Most of you will be aware of the important research and development of Radar by the TRE and the essential part it took in victory during the Second World War. You may not be aware that local scientists were also involved in other internationally important research. For instance, how many people have passed by the green square at The Lees off Thirlestone Road not realising what important research was carried on in the huts that once covered this area, (the original concrete hut bases can still be seen today). These contained the laboratories of the then new Atomic Energy Research Establishment.
Here was sited the world’s first operational synchrotron. This device used magnetic fields to accelerate atomic particles to produce high-energy X-rays which are now used for medical research and for material analysis. This principle is also used at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN.
Malvern Civic Society will be installing a commemorative plaque to recognise this important site and its pioneering scientists and technicians. These included local men such as the late Gordon Rae and Ray Roberts.
Friends of Priory Park
The Friends of Priory Park Malvern are a dedicated group of volunteers who work to preserve and protect the park working with the District Council. Why not join us?
Email: friendsofprioryparkmalvern@gmail.com
Guarlford Events
There will be a exhibition of local history in both St Mary’s Church, Guarlford (built 1844) and Guarlford village hall (built 1870).
Opening hours for both buildings will be:
Saturday 10th 10am – 4pm
Sunday 11th 2pm – 4pm with ‘songs of praise’ in the church at 3pm
Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14, and Thursday 15th 2pm – 4pm
Toilets and refreshments will be available in the village hall during opening hours.
If you would like a more active way to explore this area you might like to join the Malvern Family History Society Walk on September 10th which starts from Barnards Green at 10:00am and will explore the area known as Barnards Green (both present and past). The walk is about 5 miles and mostly flat with no stiles and will take about 3 hours. It will visit Guarlford Church. Go to https://mfhs.org.uk/event/walk-exploring-barnards-green-history/ and follow the instructions to sign up for the walk.
National Trust
- Berrington Court
- Lower Brockhampton Manor House
- Croft Castle
- The Weir
All will be taking part in Heritage Open Days on Saturday 10th September this year.