Uncover Hounslow’s Hidden Gems at Open House Festival

Open House Festival returns to London from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September, giving the general public a sneak peek behind in any other case closed doorways. 

There are 31 Open House occasions at 18 venues in Hounslow, as a part of the Council’s Summer of Culture

Programme, and all occasions are free to attend.

The two-week celebration of London’s structure and neighbourhoods will see a wide range of venues throughout the borough open their doorways to the general public, some for the primary time. They supply a singular alternative to discover its wealthy heritage, up to date design and vibrant communities. The competition additionally presents guided strolling excursions by Brentford, Isleworth and Chiswick, with a programme that guarantees one thing for everybody. 

People are invited to have fun the borough’s sixtieth birthday, with an exhibition showing ‘then and now’ photography in Hounslow Library. The library is within the Council’s Hounslow House, with its distinctive silver exterior. The constructing can be an Open House venue and people can book a guided tour with the architects. 

Hounslow performed an interesting position within the historical past of London’s water, and Kempton Steam Museum is opening its doors to shine a light-weight on this.

In Brentford persons are invited to discover St Lawrence, a 15th century tower. They can be a part of native historical past walks by the Butts Conservation Area, as soon as utilized by Henry VIII for archery, and celebrate JMW Turner’s 250th birthday with a tour of the websites he painted. 

Visitors to New Fauconberg Cottage and its sculptural cladding, can then go to Hogarth’s House and its assortment of William Hogarth prints, one of many largest collections on public show within the UK. Beyond this, Chiswick Town Hall, with its beautiful Victorian and Edwardian interiors, wealthy with tiles and stained glass, might be discovered. Explorers are additionally invited to Bedford Park with its Victorian heritage, artistic connections, and walking tour, with a hidden-river-walk alongside the Stamford Brook to finish the day. 

In Isleworth, the tranquil Quaker Meeting House (1785) can mark the beginning of an journey. Then there’s the selection of a tour of historic alms-houses or the grand villas of Spring Grove. The Thames can then be adopted to Richmond by way of the Egyptian-style, pink and grey Kilmorey Mausoleum and Richmond Lock and Weir. 

Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces at Hounslow Council, stated:

Hounslow is dwelling to a rare mixture of historic landmarks, modern structure and neighborhood areas. Our Open House Festival offers residents and guests the possibility to see behind the scenes, meet the individuals who take care of these locations, and uncover extra in regards to the borough we name dwelling. 

Organised by Open City, Hounslow’s participation within the Open House Festival invitations folks within the borough and from throughout London, to discover and have fun native buildings, locations and tales.

All venues, included these with restricted bookings, might be discovered on the Open House web site programme.openhouse.org.uk