RESIDENTS and visitors to Witney can take a trip into the past thanks to the Heritage Open Days scheme.

Heritage Open Days is celebrating the history, architecture and culture of buildings by offering free access over four days to a wide variety of venues whilst also opening up areas often not seen by the public.

Sites involved include Witney Museum, where visitors can find out more about their old photographs with local writer and historian Stanley Jenkins as well as viewing a wide range of pictures and exhibits of life in the town across the ages.

Mr Jenkins said: “It is a ‘roadshow’ event with people able to talk about their pictures and artefacts and hopefully I can shed some light on their family history.”

Ian Petty, chairman of the trustees at Witney Museum, said: “Last year we quadrupled our daily visitor numbers during the event and their contributions helped maintain our exhibits and plan more.”

Also available as part of Heritage Open Days are tours of the Witney Blanket Hall with an exhibition of architectural and sculptural work, a walking tour describing the changing landscape of Cogges and exhibitions in the Methodist Church.

There is also a guided Witney Blanket Trail walk, an exhibition in St Mary’s Church revealing plans to create a war memorial ceiling and a tour of Tower Hill Cemetery.

Cllr Jeanette Baker, cabinet member for Tourism, said: “This is a fantastic way to discover more about the history and heritage of Witney.

“Both visitors and locals are bound to find this a fascinating event.”

Heritage Open Days runs from 7-10 September. For more information visit the Witney Visitor Information Centre, Welch Way or see

www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/witneyheritage