SOME of the most historic buildings in Swindon and the surrounding area are being opened to the public next month.

Wroughton Parish Church, Lydiard House and Coleshill Model Farm and Water Mill are all opening to the public as part of this year's Heritage Open Days - organised by English Heritage.

The event aims to celebrate England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission.

The event, to be held on the weekend of Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10, also sees the special openings of the town's museums including the Wroughton Science Museum, the Richard Jefferies Museum at Coate Water and the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

In Cricklade, St Mary's Church will also be open.

Canon Michael Johnson, vicar of Wroughton said: "We are delighted to be welcoming visitors to the church for the Heritage Open Days, for what is going to be a busy weekend for us.

"This is going to the third year for which we have been open, and visitors will be able to see that this church is not just a beautiful medieval building but a living community which has been improved by the generations over the years."

In recent months a great deal of repair works has gone on at the church including some modernisation work to improve its facilities.

Inside, the church organ has been restored to its former glory and will be dedicated in a special ceremony by the Bishop of Swindon Lee Rayfield on Sunday, September 10.

The Coleshill Model Farm and Water Mill was built in 1854 as a way of demonstrating good farming techniques and is part of the National Trust-owned village.

Tours of Lydiard House near Swindon will give visitors the chance to see the walled gardens and staterooms.

In nearby Faringdon, the Faringdon Quaker Meeting House on Lechlade Road will be open giving visitors the chance to look inside the 1672-vintage structure, while in Cirencester, eight attractions will be open including The Air Raid Shelter of the Former Memorial Hospital on Sheep Street and Cecily Hill Castle.

To find out more about the events and which venues are opening should visit the website at www.heritageopendays.org

What to see and when

THe open weekend will be held on SEpt 9 & 10:

  • St Mary's Church, High Street, Cricklade - Open from 10am to 3pm on the Saturday.
  • Coleshill Model Farm & Water Mill near Highworth - Open from 2pm on Saturday.
  • Lydiard House, Lydiard Tregoze near Swindon - Open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and from 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
  • Science Museum Wroughton - Open from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Richard Jefferies Museum, near Coate Water, Swindon - Open from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday.
  • Wroughton Parish Church, Church Hill, Wroughton - Open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and from 1pm to 5.30pm on Sunday.
  • Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, Bath Road, Old Town - Open from 11am to 4pm on Saturday
  • Courthouse of the Warden and Freemen of Malmesbury, St John Street, Malmesbury - Open from noon to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.