(Image: Supplied)
A North Yorkshire town is preparing to open the doors to some of its most fascinating historic sites as part of a nationwide celebration of heritage, with residents and visitors invited to step back in time through a programme of free events.
Richmond will take part in the 2026 Heritage Open Days festival, running from September 11 to 20, with a packed programme of talks, tours, walks and family activities exploring this year’s national theme of Everyday Histories.
The events will shine a light on the lives of ordinary people who shaped the town and surrounding communities.
Colin Grant, event organiser and chairman of the Richmond and District Civic Society, said: "Heritage Open Days is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the people whose stories have shaped Richmond over the centuries.
"This year's theme reminds us that history isn't just about famous names or landmark events – it's about ordinary people, their daily lives and the lasting impact they had on our community.
"We hope residents and visitors alike will enjoy discovering some familiar places from a completely new perspective."
One of this year’s highlights is a rare look inside the former prison cells at Richmond Castle, where conscientious objectors were held during the First World War.
A talk and guided tour will share the stories of the men who refused military service on grounds of conscience and were held in the castle before many were sent to carry out the dangerous work of the Non-Combatant Corps.
Visitors will also have the chance to explore the often-overlooked lives of those who worked behind the scenes at Kiplin Hall.
A talk on domestic service will shed light on the servants whose work kept the historic house running.
Another event, Memoirs of a Swaledale Woman, will be presented by Helen Guy and draw on a 1984 interview with Maggie-Jo Chapman, who remembered life on a remote hill farm in the early 20th century.
Award-winning journalist and local history expert Chris Lloyd will lead a guided walk around Croft, exploring the village’s history through the people who lived there.
Stops will include homes linked to Lewis Carroll, author of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Alf Common, the first £1,000 footballer.
The walk will also take in Croft’s once-famous spa hotels and the grave of a vicar who was not cured by the spa waters that made the village a destination.
Visitors can also take part in family-friendly tours of The Georgian Theatre Royal, explore the historic bells of St Mary’s, and visit the rarely opened Holy Trinity Chapel.
Richmondshire Museum will present Tales of the Swale, telling the story of a Polish man who made a new life in Richmond, while the Green Howards Museum will share the stories of local heroes John Weller and Robert Henry Murray.
The programme also includes guided visits to Easby Abbey and Aske Hall, a walk through the designed landscape of the Aske estate, and a talk on Richmond’s Victorian railway station and its staff.
There will be guided walks exploring the town’s historic schools, a costumed walk with Richmond’s Victorian Policeman, and a ghost walk uncovering the town’s supernatural heritage.
For families, there will be pond dipping at Foxglove Covert Nature Reserve.
The festival concludes with a guided walk around Richmond Racecourse, believed to be one of Britain’s oldest.
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Visitors will learn about its history and see the world’s oldest surviving stone-built grandstand still in its original location.
The full Heritage Open Days programme is available online at www.richmondcivicsociety.org, and printed leaflets can be found at locations across the town.
Those helping to deliver this year’s events include Phoebe Bradley, Richmond Castle manager; Anna Bridgeman, arts administration manager at The Georgian Theatre Royal; Ian Woods in his role as the Victorian policeman; Mr Grant; and Rhoda Fraser, who runs the popular ghost walks.