It's a magical history tour... (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

It's a magical history tour...

HIDDEN architectural treasures throughout west and north Wiltshire will be open for public viewing this weekend.

Heritage Open Days are a national celebration of English architecture, culture and history, which offer free access to buildings normally closed to the public or which charge for admission.

The open days, coordinated in partnership with English Heritage and the History Channel, started yesterday and run until Sunday. Visitors to Wiltshire can learn about the history of the area through guided tours run by volunteers at some of the county's famous historical buildings.

Feature attractions in Trowbridge include the 13th century St James's Church with its 14th century bell tower, and a guided tour through the robing room and temple of the Masonic Hall, in Yerbury Street, built by the clothier and minister John Clark in 1789.

In Bradford on Avon, historians can enjoy the two-cell lock-up on the town bridge, with its iron cots and en-suite facilities still in place.

Alternatively, the Zion Baptist Chapel in Conigre Hill provides the opportunity to visit one of the oldest Non-Conformist church buildings in the country that is still used for public worship.

On Saturday, volunteers in Warminster will welcome guests to the grade two listed Athanaeum Centre, where a 90 minute tour of recently restored backstage, balcony and cellar areas has been organised by the Warminster Civic Trust.

There will also be a tour of the Army Base Repair Organisation workshops in Imber Avenue, which were initiated by the US army during the Second World War and are now crucial to the town's economy.

The Heritage Open Days were launched in 1994 and rely heavily on volunteers to share their knowledge and memories of local buildings with visitors.

Last year more than 2,600 buildings and events attracted more than 800,000 visitors across the UK.

A full list of attractions in Wiltshire can be found on the Heritage Open Days website at www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Athanaeum Centre, 18-20 High Street, Warminster

Pre-booked 90-minute tour. Saturday 11am, 1pm. Call Elisabeth Collyns (01985212825)

ABRO workshops, Imber Avenue, Warminster

Pre-booked 90-minute tour. Friday & Saturday, 9.30am, 11am. Call Elisabeth Collyns (01985212825)

Lock Up, Town Bridge, Bradford on Avon

Open Saturday & Sunday, 10am-4pm

Zion Baptist Chapel, Conigre Hill, Bradford on Avon

Open Sunday 2-4pm

St James's Church and Bell Tower, Church Street, Trowbridge. Open Sunday 2-4pm

Masonic Hall, Yerbury Street, Trowbridge

Open Saturday 12-2pm