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So much to enjoy as part of Heritage Open Days for 2024 and all free to explore (although booking is required for some events)

Bishop Asbury Cottage, Newton Road, Great Barr. 

Visit this tiny home of Francis Asbury, possibly one of the most famous people you have never heard of! Bishop Asbury grew up in this labourer's cottage just outside West Bromwich in the mid 1700s. Open Wednesday 11 September: 3:30pm-6:30pm (just drop in), Friday 13 September: 10am-12pm (just drop in). Please note that the cottage is accessed by several steep steps and is a 2 up, 2 down

Galton Valley Pumping Station

Take a walk along the Old Mainline canal off the Brasshouse Lane Bridge at Smethwick and explore this little pumping station, which operated to regulate the water levels between the two canals. With a walk to the Old Pumping station footings at 12 noon. OPen Saturday 14th September 11am-3pm. 

Oak House Museum: Oak Rd, West Bromwich, B70 8HJ

Guided Tours: Sunday 8 September, Site open 11.00am.-2.00.pm. Join us for free tours of Oak House at 11.15am and 12.30pm. Tuesday 10 September, site open 11.00am-4.00pm. Join us for free tours of Oak House at 12.00pm and 2.00pm. Tea room open. No need to book.

Heritage Open Day Talk:  Sunday 15 September. Site open 11.00-2.00pm. “A Walk Around 17th Century West Bromwich” . Talk at 12.00pm. House open, Tea room open. No need to book.

Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery, Holyhead Rd, WS10 7DF

Meet the amazing, spectacular F. W. Hackwood of Wednesbury-A preview of research about the journalist and historian ahead of a play about his life. Saturday 7 September 12pm-1pm. Visit Wednesbury Museum, see a portrait of Frederick Hackwood who was a notable local historian at the end of the Victorian period and join Adrian Johnson who will be sharing some of the research he has been undertaking about Hackwood's life.

Exploring Sandwell’s History through photos, pictures, paintings and objects. 7– 14 September when museum open (Weds and Thurs 11.00am-4.00pm, Sat 11.00am-2.00pm). As Sandwell turns 50 visit Wednesbury Museum and enjoy our celebration of local history with photos of what is now Sandwell spanning more than 100 years as well as artwork and craft items of local places or by local people from our collection and the story of how the museum came to be!

Galton Valley Pumping Station. Off Brasshouse Lane Smethwick, B66 1AQ Open Day. 14 September, 11am-3pm. Take a walk along the Old Mainline canal off  Brasshouse Lane bridge at Smethwick and explore this little pumping station, which operated to regulate the water levels between the two canals. With a walk to the Old Pumping station footings at 12pm.

Bishop Asbury Cottage. Newton Rd, B43 6HN  Open Days. Wednesday 11 September: 3:30pm-6:30pm (just drop in) and  Friday 13 September: 10am-12pm (just drop in). Visit this tiny home of Francis Asbury, possibly one of the most famous people you may never have heard of! Bishop Asbury grew up in this labourer's cottage just outside West Bromwich in the mid 1700s.

Haden Hill House, Off Barrs Rd, B64 7JU

Cellar Tours of Haden Old Hall: Friday 6 September 11:00am and 2:00pm. Haden Old Hall was the original house on Haden Hill, built in the late 1600s. It is next door to the later Victorian House now- Haden Hill House Museum. This Heritage Open Days we are giving visitors a unique opportunity to take a tour of the cellars at Haden Old Hall and discover its secrets!  Booking required by calling 01384 569 444.Thursdays or Fridays                                                                                                                                       

Historical Landscape Tour of Haden Hill Park: Friday 6 Sept: Tour 11:00am. Take a fascinating history and landscape tour of the upper part of this historic landscape with local historian John Billingham who has undertaken extensive research to be able to tell you the story of this beautiful parkland. The park is quite steep in places so please wear sensible footwear and a reasonable level of fitness to keep up with the tour will be required. Booking essential, call 01384 569 444 Thurs/ Friday

Old Photo’s of Haden Hill & Rowley Regis: Sunday 8 Sept 2:00pm-5:00pm.  Have you got any old photographs of Haden Hill House, Old Hall & Park or Rowley Regis, Old Hill or Cradley Heath that you would like to share with us? Bring them to Haden Hill House Museum between 2pm-5pm. We love to see them.

What’s Up there?” at Haden Hill House: Wednesday 11 Sept 11:00am and 2:00pm.  “What’s Up There?” Unlock and discover some of the secrets of our attics and take a unique glimpse behind the scenes. Booking Essential call 01384 569 444

Haden Old Hall Open Day 2.30pm-4.30pm and History Talk 2:30pm: Sunday 15 September 2.30pm-3.30pm talk.  “Our Stour” – Enjoy a talk about the River Stour as it meanders from Clent to the River Severn from local historian John Billingham. Booking required for talk on 01384 569 444. Suitable for adults. Booking required for talk, open day drop in.  Haden Old Hall open 2.30-4.30pm - no need to book just drop in.

Bromwich Hall Museum–Hall Green Rd. B71 2EA

Twilight Tour. Wednesday 11 September, 7:30pm A chance to explore this fascinating medieval building once the home of the Lords of the Manor of West Bromwich, with parts dating back to the 1270s. Book at www.ticketsource.co.uk/sandwell-museums-and-arts from 27 August.

Learn about how to create plays, scripts and stories using interviews and conversations. Tuesday 10 September. Join us for a creative workshop for adults where you can learn about creating, plays, scripts and stories from interviews,  conversations and memories.  Free workshop session starts at 2pm no need to book. 

Bromwich Hall and Medieval West Bromwich - 6 September 10.30am . Join former borough archaeologist  Mike Hodder as he explores the history of Bromwich Hall and medieval West Bromwich in this talk. No need to book, then explore the building.

Black Tudors. A New Narrative. Tuesday 10 Sept 11:00am-3:00pm. See this exhibition by young artists who explored the lives of Black Tudors and created pictures, paintings and poetry to showcase their stories.

Bromwich Hall Alive—Medieval encampment. 14 and 15 September 11:00am-4:00pm. Join us as we travel back to the 1400s with knights and knight school, ladies, join in a dance, play medieval games, learn about weapons and medicine and loads more. You can also meet the Lord of the Manor’s horse and enjoy activities for young visitors! Timetable will be on our Facebook page a few days before the event.

Sandwell Archives Service. Smethwick Library, B66 1AA

Archives Discovery Day. Wednesday 11 September 10m-4pm. Join us for a day full of activities and exhibitions. Take a glimpse into our collection and see how we take care for our collections.  Full details and timetable at  heritageopendays.org.uk

Sandwell 50 Photographic Exhibition and talk. Friday 13 September 9:30am-5:00pm (talk at 11am), Saturday 14 September: 10:00am-4:00pm. Enjoy our pop up exhibition as it visits Blackheath Library with photographs from our archives showcasing scenes from across Sandwell in the past. This runs alongside Sandwell celebrating its 50th birthday.   On Friday 13, starting at 11am, there will be a talk about the exhibition, and how Sandwell came to be as well as a chance to explore some fascinating archive material from Sandwell Archives Service.                                                                                

Scenes of Bearwood, Smethwick and Warley - Challis self guided heritage walk. Local artist Henry Challis portrayed scenes of Bearwood, Smethwick and Warley - discover the places he painted with this brand new heritage walk, explore the  changes in the landscape and see his paintings on display. Pick up a walk leaflet at Thimblemill Library, Sandwell Archives, Haden Hill House or Wednesbury Museum.

The Tipton Clock - As Tipton library moves back into the glorious Edwardian building which it once occupied we are giving you the chance to see the two-faced clock which once was in the library and is now part of Sandwell Museums' collection. On display between 6th and 15th September when the library is open. 

All Heritage Open Days events and activities are FREE

visit the Heritage Open Days website to find out what's on and free to explore in Sandwell