Heritage Open Days 2025 & 2026's Theme

Our annual Heritage Open Days event in 2025 was an absolute blast! From 18th - 20th September 2025, the Friends hosted a heritage weekend that once again linked to the HODs annual theme. The theme this time was architecture!

As we've done something similar to architecture in the past, focusing purely on the chapels and renovations, we decided to do something a bit different. And so, 'How to Build a Cemetery' was born.

Our event walked visitors through the purchasing of the land, the laying of the foundation stone and building of the chapels, walls, and old hearse house. We focused on the plants - what worked, what failed, the various patchwork of sections being gradually added, and the caretakers that came and went through the gates between 1868 and 1974.

It was such a fantastic event once again, and we found that giving an extra day for people to visit really helped bring more people through the chapel doors!

We look forward to 2026's event, 'Lives Behind the Counters', where we will focus on the shopkeepers and workers on Wombwell High Street for HODs' 'Everyday Lives' theme. We'll also be speaking at the HODs' Community Cafe in April to help groups to create events based on the theme if they really want to do it and don't know where to start.

Promo Image

Watercolour of inside of chapel 1868

Map of cemetery 1907