Dorchester's Heritage Open Day is Coming, and Two Walks Start Right in Poundbury
Updated: Sep 3
On Sunday 13 September, Dorchester joins thousands of towns across England for Heritage Open Day, the annual nationwide celebration where historic buildings open their doors, hidden places reveal their secrets, and expert-led walks take you somewhere you've never quite seen before. And this year, two of the most compelling walks on the programme start on our Poundbury doorstep, at Pips Café on the Great Field.
Both are free, but space is limited, so it's worth booking soonest.
Walk 1: The Roman Aqueduct — 2pm–4.30pm
Dorchester sits on the site of the Roman town of Durnovaria, and beneath and around us lies evidence of a sophisticated civilisation that shaped this landscape nearly two thousand years ago. One of its most remarkable feats of engineering was an aqueduct that carried water to the town from the River Frome, parts of which survive in the countryside around Poundbury to this day.
On this circular walk, led by Dorset Council Senior Archaeologist Steve Wallis, you'll see the best surviving sections of the aqueduct, along with other historic features and some lovely Dorset countryside. The walk starts with a short introductory talk at Pips Café, lasts around two and a half hours, and involves some slopes, so do bring appropriate footwear for possibly muddy paths.
Space for 20 participants. Book here via Eventbrite.
Walk 2: Poundbury Architectural Tour — 11am–12pm
For anyone who has ever walked past an extraordinary building in Poundbury and wondered how it came to look the way it does, this is the walk to take. Simon Conibear LVO, the Duchy of Cornwall's Development Manager between 1996 and 2018, and one of the key people who shaped modern Poundbury, will lead a walking tour from Pummery Square and the earliest phases of the development right through to Queen Mother Square and the latest phases.
Simon was a contributor to the Dorchester Town Council architectural walking guide we featured recently, but this is something rather different: a guided tour with the man who knows every building's backstory.
Space for 40 participants. Book here via Eventbrite.
The rest of the day: a remarkable programme
The two Poundbury walks are just the beginning. Across Dorchester on 13 September, Heritage Open Day offers an extraordinary range of free experiences:
The Corn Exchange and Council Chamber opens for guided tours at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm with former Town Clerk Steve Newman, revealing the story of its major restoration programme. No booking required.
Sunninghill School hosts a talk by Jeremy Pope—great-grandson of Alfred Pope—on the transformation of Dorchester in the late 19th century, including the story of the Eldridge Pope brewery and the arrival of the railway. Headteacher David Newberry will also offer a guided tour of this fascinating historic building, followed by refreshments courtesy of the school. 12pm–2pm.
Dorset Museum opens its behind-the-scenes Collections Discovery Centre for exclusive store tours focused on the social history of Dorchester, at 11am and 1pm.
St Peter's Church offers access to its bell tower and bell-ringing demonstrations from 12pm–4pm, with guided tours of a church that dates largely to the 13th century.
Max Gate, Thomas Hardy's own house, opens for National Trust guided tours throughout the day.
And a series of guided walks tackle everything from the Subterranean Tunnels of Dorchester (already sold out, waitlist available) to Wartime Dorchester with D-Day Dorset expert Steve George, to the grimly compelling story of Baron Jeffreys, the Hanging Judge, who sentenced the Monmouth Rebels to death during the Bloody Assizes.
A central Heritage Open Day stall will be at the Town Pump, Cornhill, from 10am–4pm, alongside a World War Two jeep from D-Day Dorset, the Keep Military Museum, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
All events are free. Pre-booking is essential for the walks. Full details and booking at discoverdorchester.co.uk/heritage-open-day.
For more events in the local area, please visit What's On and Discover Dorchester.