Heritage Open Days 2025 | Potteries Heritage Society

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Every year in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE. This year Heritage Open Days returns with a 10-day festival taking place from Friday 12th to Sunday 21st September. You can have free access to events and properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission or choose one of the many events that place especially for the festival.

Colour Key

Here in Stoke-on-Trent, there will be the the usual chance to discover fantastic architecture and enjoy a wide range of events and activities that bring local history and culture to life. This year the national theme is ‘Architecture’, providing an opportunity to highlight our distinctive heritage buildings and our iconic Bottle Ovens! In this special anniversary year for Stoke-on-Trent, there are lots of new events designed to celebrate the City's Centenary. These events have been supported by the Heritage Fund and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

The programme is co-ordinated nationally, by the National Trust and with support from players of the People's Postcard Lottery, and locally by The Heritage Network for Stoke-on-Trent, bringing together local hosts and heritage enthusiasts.

As events are still being developed, this page will be a work in progress until registration closes on 8th August. See our "At a Glance" guide below.

Colours indicate general location: Pink=Tunstall; Orange=Burslem; Yellow=Hanley & Etruria; Green=Stoke & Hartshill; Blue=Fenton; Purple=Longton & Trentham; Dark Grey=Multiple Locations; Grey=our friends just outside the city.

Themes: A=Architecture B=Bottle Ovens C=City Centenary P=Pre-booking required

The Festival - At a Glance

Click on the event titles for more information and booking. Clicking on the HODs logo on the bottom right of the event pages takes you further information and maps on the HODs site.

Fri 12 Sep					Charles Barry & his Grand Designs for Trentham 1900-2100 A
Sat 13 Sep		Stoke Minster 1000-1400		Trentham and its Architects 1100-1600 A	Bethesda Chapel 1200-1400
Sat 13 Sep	Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Tours 1000-1600 P
Sun 14 Sep	Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Tours 1000-1600 P	Ford Green Hall 1100-1530		In the Footsteps of the Fords 1400-1630 A P
Mon 15 Sep
Tue 16 Sep
Wed 17 Sep
Thu 18 Sep	Donation of a Legacy: from Pottery to Communities 1000-1400 B C
Fri 19 Sep	Donation of a Legacy: from Pottery to Communities 1000-1400 B C	A Walking Tour of Arnold Bennett's Burslem 1100-1400 A C	Salt, Pepper & Vinegar Bottle Ovens 1300-1600 B
Fri 19 Sep
Sat 20 Sep	Donation of a Legacy: from Pottery to Communities 1000-1400 B C		St Bartholomew's Church Norton-le-Moors 1100-1600		Bethesda Chapel 1200-1400
Sat 20 Sep	Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Tours 1000-1600 P
Sun 21 Sep	Chatterley Whitfield Colliery Tours 1000-1600 P

Anytime during the festival	Bottle Oven Facts (QR codes at 29 sites) A B C

Alternatively, check out:

The HODS Diary

for Stoke-on-Trent

The HODs Events Directory

for Stoke-on-Trent

The Full HODs Directory

for the whole of England

During Stoke-on-Trent's Centenary Year, the Heritage Network is co-ordinating Heritage Open Days in Stoke-on-Trent with support from the City Council and funding from the Heritage Fund. Thanks to players of the National Lottery.