I spent some time yesterday deciding where to go during the Heritage Open Days which this year is the 13th - 22nd September. This is a good opportunity to visit places for free that usually charge admission and to visit places that are not normally open to the public. I usually manage to forget about it and miss out so I thought I would be prepared this year. Even so a couple of places were already full. Note to self - must start earlier next year! Anyway I have tickets for Dudley Castle (haven't been there for years), Bromwich Hall and Chance Glass. I have passed the derelict Chance Glass factory beside the canal many times but never new that during the mid 19th century it was the leading British manufacturer of window and plate glass, supplying the glass for Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition, the Houses of Parliament, The Westminster Clock Tower (Big Ben) and the White House as well as making lenses for lighthouses all over the world.
There are loads of other places I would like to go but they don't require booking. Quite a few in the Bournville area, The Oak House at West Bromwich, Soho House, Aston Hall and the Redditch needle museum. I love places that have shaped local history.
I also booked another couple of trips to the theatre using the vouchers I was given from work when I retired. During the rest of the year I am going to see The Barber Shop Chronicles at the end of September, Prism in October and My Beautiful Laundrette in November, all at the Rep in Birmingham, and The Boy in the Dress in November at Stratford. It's nice to have things to look forward to.
Off to Scotland tomorrow.