Heritage open weekend due to be held in Northampton next month cancelled

The event usually celebrates Northampton's heritage sites. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds.

A weekend event that is held annually and usually celebrates the rich heritage of Northampton has been cancelled.

The Heritage Open Days event was supposed to take place from September 18 to September 20, but due to the Covid-19 the event has been axed.

Normally, Northampton Borough Council oversees the local promotion of the national event, which has taken place in the town for the past 25 years, and Northampton Transport Heritage bus operators link the venues with a free service.

Councillor Anna King, cabinet member for community engagement and safety, said: “We are of course disappointed that Northampton’s Heritage Open Days will not be taking place this year, as it is a well-established and popular event, which attracts people from far and wide to discover the many historic places in the town and beyond.

“However, with the number of COVID cases in Northampton now being higher than the national average, we must prioritise public safety and avoid any events which encourage people to gather in close proximity.”

Most of the usual national participating venues have not registered to take part this year, as many are older buildings, which makes social distancing difficult to maintain and bus operators have also decided not to participate.

Although the main event has been cancelled in Northampton, a guided walk around the 1460 Battle of Northampton site and nearby Eleanor Cross will run on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September.

Find out more about the walk on the Heritage Open Days website.

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