The end of September sees the welcome return of Isle of Man Heritage Open Days, the Island’s largest free celebration of heritage with over 80 weekend events taking place from Friday 29 September to Sunday 8 October. The spirit of the event is about rediscovering some of the historic or unusual places, stories, objects, characters and culture from around the Isle of Man.
Isle of Man Heritage Open Days are a proud celebration of our heritage as a community. To take part in the festival organisations, individuals and groups provide public access to buildings, landscapes and displays that are usually closed to the public, have an admission fee or can provide new insights into the significance of the area, artefact or story. The events take place all over the Island and have inspired people to embrace the heritage on their door step. The entire festival is free to attend.
As hosts, Manx National Heritage fund and coordinate the event, which brings together public, private and charitable sectors as well as many individuals and volunteers who are keen to share their well-kept secret locations, stories, knowledge and treasure to deliver a programme of behind-the-scenes tours, talks, insights and walks – showing us our heritage in unique ways.
The 2023 programme features an insight into the Manx National Heritage collections and galleries, including the Museum 100 exhibition, the new TT Gallery, National Archives, Natural History collection, large object store and the National Arts collection. You can also join our archaeologists to discover more about Vikings at Maughold Head and Peel Castle, or the life of people at Rushen Abbey.
To celebrate 150 years of the Steam Railway on the island, Isle of Man Railways will be providing their fascinating and insightful tours of the much loved railway workshops, steam sheds and signal box – for a glimpse behind the scenes of the islands unique steam railway operations and how they have been so impressively maintained. The Public Record Office are also giving a nod to this major milestone in Manx history, taking guests on a deep dive into the archives for a journey through Manx heritage railways.
Featuring for the first time, we have a folklore tour of Glen Mona with Culture Vannin – watch out for witches or a buggane! You can now also partake in an exploration of the ruins of Upper Cornaa Valley and Keeill Woirrey, for those who like adventures. If you would rather a more hands-on approach, you can learn more about the Laxey Skiff Building Project, witness the art of constructing the Laxey Skiff and join a guided tour of their workshops. Or you could immerse yourself in the history of the Peel RNLI Lifeboat station, for a more nautical themed experience.
The full Isle of Man Heritage Open Days programme can be found online at https://manxnationalheritage.im/whats-on/. Bookings for all events open at midday on Thursday 14 September. Visit manxnationalheritage.im to find out more and to book.
ENDS
Editor’s Notes
Download the full programme here or browse the table below:
| No | Event Name | Location | Dates | Tickets to be released 14th September 12pm | |||||||
| 1 | Knock-e-Dhooney – Ice Age to the Vikings | Knock-e-Dhooney Farm | Sat 30 Sep | 2pm | |||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 2pm | ||||||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | 2pm | ||||||||||
| 2 | Folklore tour of Glen Mona with Culture Vannin | Glen Mona | Sat 30 Sep | 1pm | 3pm | ||||||
| 3 | Manx Single Malt Whiskey – Ushtey Bea Fynoderee | Ramsey | Sat 30 Sep | 11am | |||||||
| Sat 7 Oct | 11am | ||||||||||
| 4 | Watch and Ward: a Viking Age ‘early warning system’ for the defence of the Isle of Man (Maughold) | Maughold | Fri 29 Sep | 1pm | 2.30pm | ||||||
| 5 | Vintage Vehicle Running Day | Jurby | Sun 1 Oct | Open Day from 11am to 4pm | |||||||
| 6 | Albert Tower Open Day | Ramsey | Sat 30 Sep | 10am | 10.30am | 11am | 11.30am | 1.30pm | 2pm | 2.30pm | 3pm |
| Sat 7 Oct | 10am | 10.30am | 11am | 11.30am | 1.30pm | 2pm | 2.30pm | 3pm | |||
| 7 | Centuries in Smeale | Andreas | Sat 30 Sep | 2pm | |||||||
| 8 | Exploring the upper Cornaa Valley and Keeil Woirrey | Hibernia | Sun 1 Oct | 1.30pm | |||||||
| 9 | Peace, Poetry and the Past at Old Ballaugh Church | Ballaugh | Fri 29 Sep | Open Day | |||||||
| Sat 30 Sep | Open Day | ||||||||||
| Sun 1 Oct | Open Day | ||||||||||
| 10 | Discovering the Cradle of Manx Christianity | Maughold | Fri 29 Sep | 2pm | 3.30pm | ||||||
| Sat 30 Sep | 2pm | 3.30pm | |||||||||
| Sat 7 Oct | 2pm | 3.30pm | |||||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | 2pm | 3.30pm | |||||||||
| 11 | Guided Tour of King William’s College | Castletown | Sat 30 Sep | 2.30pm | |||||||
| 12 | Guided Tours of the Manx Aviation and Military Museum | Ballasalla | Fri 29 Sep | 10am
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| Sat 30 Sep | 10am | ||||||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 10am | ||||||||||
| Sat 7 Oct | 10am | ||||||||||
| 13 | Quilliam’s Castletown | Castletown | Fri 6 Oct | 10am | 2pm | ||||||
| 14 | Guided Tour of the Large Object Store with Manx National Heritage | Ballasalla | Sat 7 Oct | 10am | 12pm | ||||||
| 15 | Golden Meadow Mill Tour | Castletown | Sat 7 Oct | 10am | 12.30pm | ||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | 10am | 12.30pm | |||||||||
| 16 | A History of the Southern 100 Race Control and timekeeping | Castletown | Sun 1 Oct | 1pm | |||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | 1pm | ||||||||||
| 17 | Devotion, Deemsters and a little bit of disco with Manx National Heritage | Ballasalla | Fri 29 Sep | 11.30am | 1.30pm | ||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 11.30am | 1.30pm | |||||||||
| 18 | Living with the Wire: Rushen Camp | Port Erin | Sat 30 Sep | 11am | |||||||
| 19 | Artists of Rushen Exhibition | Port Erin | Fri 6 Oct | Open Day 10am to 4pm | |||||||
| Sat 30 Sep | Open Day 10am to 4pm | ||||||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | Open Day 10am to 4pm | ||||||||||
| Sat 7 Oct | Open Day 10am to 4pm | ||||||||||
| 20 | Behind the Scenes Tour of Tynwald | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 10am | |||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 10am | ||||||||||
| 21 | Why have all this stuff? An exploration of the Natural History Collection | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 11am | |||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 11am | ||||||||||
| 22 | Tour of Government House | Onchan | Fri 29 Sep | 11am | 2pm | ||||||
| 23 | Guided Tour of Manx National Heritage’s Art Store | Douglas | Sat 30 Sep | 10am | 11.30am | ||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 11.30am | 1pm | |||||||||
| 24 | Guided Tour of MUSEUM 100 Exhibition | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 11am | |||||||
| 25 | Born In A Boarding House | Douglas | Sat 7 Oct | 11am | 2pm | ||||||
| 26 | The Great Walls of Laxey | Laxey | Sat 30 Sep | 11am | 2pm | ||||||
| 27 | St Thomas’ Church Murals and Organ | Douglas | Sun 1 Oct | 2pm | 3.15pm | ||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | 2pm | 3.15pm | |||||||||
| 28 | Behind the Scenes Tour Library & Archives Conservation | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | Open Day 10am to 4pm | |||||||
| 29 | A Ramble in Braddan Cemetery | Braddan | Sun 8 Oct | 2pm | 3.30pm | ||||||
| 30 | TT Gallery: The stories behind the Manx Museum’s newest gallery with Manx National Heritage | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 4pm | |||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 4pm | ||||||||||
| 31 | Laxey Skiff Building Community Project | Laxey | Sat 7 Oct | Open Day 10am to 4pm | |||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | Open Day 10am to 4pm | ||||||||||
| 32 | Guided Tour and Open House at the Gaiety Theatre | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 6.30pm | |||||||
| Sat 30 Sep | Open Day 2pm to 4pm | ||||||||||
| 33 | Molly Corrooin’s Cottage, Onchan | Onchan | Fri 29 Sep | Open Day 1.30pm to 4.30pm | |||||||
| Sat 30 Sep | Open Day 1.30pm to 4.30pm | ||||||||||
| Sun 1 Oct | Open Day 1.30pm to 4.30pm | ||||||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | Open Day 1.30pm to 4.30pm | ||||||||||
| Sat 7 Oct | Open Day 1.30pm to 4.30pm | ||||||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | Open Day 1.30pm to 4.30pm | ||||||||||
| 34 | Discover the history of your home with Manx National Heritage | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 4pm | |||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 4pm | ||||||||||
| 35 | Pub Walk and Visit to a Working Cellar | Douglas | Sun 8 Oct | 2pm | |||||||
| 36 | All Aboard! A Journey Through Isle of Man Heritage Railways Archive | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 10am | 2pm | Exhibition Open Day from 10am to 4pm | |||||
| Sat 30 Sep | 10am | 2pm | Exhibition Open Day from 10am to 4pm | ||||||||
| Fri 6 Oct | 10am | 2pm | Exhibition Open Day from 10am to 4pm | ||||||||
| 37 | Living with the Wire: Onchan Camp | Onchan | Fri 29 Sep | 11am | |||||||
| 38 | Living with the Wire: Hutchinson Camp | Douglas | Fri 29 Sep | 2pm | |||||||
| 39 | Meet the Trammers Open Day | Douglas | Sat 30 Sep | Open Day 10am to 3pm | |||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | Open Day 10am to 3pm | ||||||||||
| 40 | 150 Years of Steam Workshop Tour | Douglas | Sun 1 Oct | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | |||
| Sat 7 Oct | 10am | 11am | 12pm | 1pm | 2pm | ||||||
| 41 | Short Operational Video & Tour of the Recycling Facility | Douglas | Sat 30 Sep | 10am | 11am | 1pm | 2pm | 3pm | |||
| 42 | Peel RNLI Lifeboat Station History Day | Peel | Sun 1 Oct | 11am | |||||||
| 43 | Watch and Ward: a Viking Age ʻearly warning systemʼ for the defence of the Isle of Man (Peel) | Peel | Sat 7 Oct | 11am | 12.30pm | ||||||
| 44 | Mooreʼs Traditional Smokehouse Factory Tour | Peel | Sat 30 Sep | 11am | |||||||
| Sun 1 Oct | 11am | ||||||||||
| Sat 7 Oct | 11am | ||||||||||
| Sun 8 Oct | 11am | ||||||||||
Image caption: Left to Right: Helen Ashcroft, Public Engagement Manager at Manx National Heritage and Grainne Kermode, Heritage Open Days Volunteer Assistant from University College Isle of Man.
Media contact:
Lynsey Clague BA (Hons) MCIPR
Communications Manager – Manx National Heritage
T: 01624 648032
Manx National Heritage, Eiraght Ashoonagh Vannin
Manx Museum, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3LY
Isle of Man Registered Charity No 603