Hidden treasures of Swindon’s past both recent and much more ancient, will be open and revealed this weekend.

The annual Heritage Open Days weekend begins on Friday (September 8) and in total there will be 26 venues or activities including talks, guided walks, exhibitions and activities for children.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for heritage, art and culture, said: “Heritage Open Days is always a weekend marked in my calendar many months ahead.

“It gives so many people the opportunity to find out more about the history of their local area.

“I would encourage everyone to come out and visit a few locations to truly immerse themselves in the history of Swindon and see why the town’s heritage is so important.”

Here’s a preview of five of the events which caught our eye.

Archaeology in the Park

Join in a dig at GWR Park in Faringdon Road to uncover some Second World War-era secrets.

!0am-4pm Friday 8 and Saturday, September 9, 10am-3pm Sunday 10

No booking needed.

The Cricketers Arms

Get a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the ongoing restoration of the pub in Railway Village which was a favourite with GWR workers. (and debate whether the name has an apostrophe, and if so, where it should go)

Saturday, September 9: 11am-2pm. No booking required.

Rodbourne Trail

We all visit the Designer Outlet in Rodbourne. But there’s lots more to see on foot in this tour of its streets.

Saturday, September 16: 10am-noon

Booking required

Contact: Gordon on 07766 138229 or email Secretary@RodbourneHistory.org

St Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze

One of very few churches that still have some of its pre-Reformation wall paintings, and closely linked to the mother of Henery VII, Margaret Beaufort.

Booking not needed.

Open 11am to 4pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Heritage Apple Day at Lydiard Park

See the pre1740 varieties of apples cultivated and trained into goblet shapes by lead gardener Andy Dyer and his team. Meet Andy to find out more about the garden; taste the apples; enjoy traditional apple games and sample Lydiard’s cider and apple juice.

Booking not needed: Sunday, September 10: 11am-4pm

For the full listing of all 26 events and times and booking details visit https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/search and put Swindon into the search box