Heritage Open Days

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS 2023

The National Trust are currently organising Heritage Open Days for 2023.   They will be held from Friday 8th September to Sunday 17th September 2023.

We will be opening the William Layne Reading Room on Aughton Lane, Aston on Friday 8th September from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9th September from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Come and discover our local history through documents, maps and photographs.  Visitors can browse our albums of photographs showing the changes over the years in Aston, Aughton, Swallownest, Fence and Ulley.   We have albums of information about local men who died in the two World Wars and the results of recent research into mining fatalities in local collieries.

Browse through the 1928 sale book of the Aston estate, with photographs of the hall, farms, houses and cottages that were included in the sale.

You can also see the results of our research into all the graves in Aston churchyard, including photographs.    Display cabinets will also show the history of mining, education, churches and chapels and notable people.

We are also collecting a pictorial history of the villages of Aston, Aughton, Swallownest, Fence and Ulley.   If you have any photographs of local people places and events, please bring them along.   We would love to see them and copy them for our albums.

This year some events will include local craftsmen.   On  Saturday 9th September, Ms Solange Masher, a Book Conservator who works in Sheffield, will be demonstrating her craft.    Come and see her at work.

Our local history books will be on sale.   They make ideal presents.

Directions

The William Layne Reading Room is about one mile from Junction 31 on the M1. Leave the roundabout on the dual carriageway signposted Sheffield A57 and immediately turn right onto the B6067 signposted Aston. Follow the road through Aston village and at the junction with shops facing you, turn right (signposted Rotherham). There is a car park on the left  (2 hours restricted time parking) and the Reading Room is opposite the car park.     Parking is also available on side streets.