Bedford Heritage Event Is Every Month of September

Every Month of September

Bedford joins in the European Heritage Days that is held across 49 countries in Europe during September of every year. This event is a mass celebration commemorating the cultural heritage of the entire European continent.

During this event, some 3,500 historic properties from all over the country including a number in Bedforshire County will open their doors to the public for free. This will give locals and visitors alike the chance to explore the many spectacular places, which are normally closed to the public, in the county without having to pay anything.

In Bedford, the historical place that will take part in the Heritage Days is the Elstow Bunyan Meeting Hall. Being one of the last surviving market halls from the medieval period, the meeting hall has been used in a number of ways over the past years. Now, it serves as the building for a museum and a community hall. Highlights of the structure include the colored glass window that depicts scenes of author John Bunyan’s work, “Pilgrim’s Progress”. The meeting hall can also be found on the site of Bunyan’s former cottage.

Last year, the Heritage Open Days drew in more than one million visitors, with 90 percent of them coming from those places which are just some 30 minutes away from the event. This four-day annual event is expected to draw in more visitors this year and in the coming years, as aside from the property openings, tours, exhibitions, historical reenactments and cooking, demonstrations will also be featured in the Heritage Days.