Heritage Open Day Saturday 10th September in St. Peter and St. Paul's Church

The Heritage Open Day is part of a nationwide event started by the National Churches Trust to promote heritage sites and buildings. We are lucky to have a diverse history in Wincanton with many interesting stories and historical events to choose from. This year we are linking our first Open Day to the new Wincanton Town Heritage Trail which was launched in late December, 2015.

The trail was designed for families and visitors to experience a taste of the old town and the people who shaped its development, using a trail leaflet and two maps on their own. The leaflet and maps are held at the Town Hall and Library and have proved to be very popular.

During the summer the Lanhau Twinning Association asked us to take 40 German school children on the trail, so leaflets were especially prepared for them and their teachers and a group of interested adult volunteers stewarded the route.

It was a beautiful day and Coneygore was covered with yellow buttercups set against a blue sky and a lovely start to the walk around the town. The older children were fascinated with the Napoleonic prisoners of war gravestone in the St. Peter and St. Paul churchyard.

The programme of displays and activities included in the programme for the Heritage Open Day this year features artwork from the pupils of King Arthur's School on churchyard flowers and the pipistrelle bat that frequents the churchyard, and some drawings and craftwork by the Tiny Church group of Miss Chafyn Grove who laid the foundation stone of the present church.

There will be story telling on the St. Eligius legend, and a display about Jack White, the Wincanton murderer, by the Museum and History Society. The Tower Captain will be talking about the bells and bell ringing and there will be an opportunity to ring a bell before a visiting group of expert bellringers arrive to ring a quarter peal at 11.30am.

There will be slate rubbing during the afternoon and a children’s play area available whilst parents browse the church archives, and some photographs of the first Wincanton clock made by William Cockey will be on display.

A coffee morning is also being held and refreshments will be available during the afternoon. The Pilgrim Singers are going to round off the day with a short programme of varied songs.

Admission is free and the event runs from 10.00am to 4.30pm.

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