HISTORY enthusiasts in Westbury are being invited to take to the town’s streets to help mark national open heritage week. Westbury Museum is celebrating the town’s history with a guided walk on Saturday 9th September featuring all of the town’s ten blue plaques along with other buildings of especial interest.
A special exhibition at the museum will also feature the blue plaques along with detailed background information about these historic markers. The walk starts at 2pm from the town’s library in Edward Street. Tickets cost £5, the walk will last about an hour and a half, and people are invited to turn up on the day.
National open heritage week takes place from Saturday 9th September to Sunday 17th September and is a way for people to discover more about the place they live in. Local historians Liz Argent and Sally Hendry will be leading the walks which will focus on Westbury’s historic centre along with its many historic buildings and the stories that go with them.
The heritage society which runs the town museum above the Westbury Library has been looking at ways to involve more people in their town heritage. As well as talks, walks and exhibitions, the society recently screened a film about Eric Ravilious, the war artist who painted the iconic picture of our own white horse. The event proved popular with almost 100 people attending the film show at the Laverton. The society now hopes to have a repeat showing.
The museum also recently hosted the first of a series of workshops which focussed on how to research the history of your own house.
Westbury Museum says, “Led by experts Steve Hobbs and Dorothy Treasure, the event was a great success, offering research tips on everything from maps and censuses to the town’s changing street names.
“The museum is always looking for volunteers. If you think you can help or are just interested in knowing about future events please email us at info@westburyheritagesociety.org.uk, visit us on Facebook at Westbury Museum or on our website at www.westburyheritagesociety.org.uk.”
