A RARE opportunity to get a detailed glimpse at Radcliffe’s history will form part of a weekend of national heritage celebrations.

Members of the Friends of Radcliffe Manor group have worked tirelessly to get a heritage trail around Radcliffe Tower, the Tithe Barn, St Mary’s Church and Close Park ready in time for the annual Heritage Open Days weekend, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, September 8 to 11.

On Saturday, September 10, local history enthusiasts will be leading tours around the trail, with the church open to display information and photos from the town’s past.

Carol Kemp, chair of the Friends group, said: “We have tried all along to have a proper opening weekend.

“It has proved a nightmare to organise at times.

“On the Saturday, we have permission to open the church and display things in there, and those things will also be available to view after the Sunday service.

“This particular day is a chance for people to have a proper look around the tower and the church.

“I have spent the last few months working on a timeline history of the church, and we also have a lot of previously unseen photos from around the trail.

“We have old uniforms and flags from the scouts and guides groups that started at the church, and photographs of children who would probably be in their 90s now.”

The Friends group, established earlier this year, have big plans for the area and are eager to teach local residents about Radcliffe’s illustrious history.

Their tours, which will run at 11am and 1pm starting at the community hut in Close Park, will cover the development of the site – which dates back to medieval times – by the de Radcliffe and Bealey families.

She added: “Although we haven’t put together a specific calendar of when we are going to be there, we are looking at doing a few more tours this year and then one or two every month next summer.

“We have put in a bid to create some more information boards so we can keep improving the site, and we are thinking about holding another grand event next year.

“There is a re-enactment group waiting in the wings to put some events on around the tower, as well as a few other things, so we have a lot planned.

“We could have a May Day celebration and a party in the park.

“There really is a lot we can do.”

The Mayor of Bury, Cllr Mike Connolly, will officially open the trail on the Friday in a private event for sponsors of the project, before it opens to the public from 10am to 4pm on the Saturday.

For additional information, visit tinyurl.com/manorfriends or email friendsofradcliffe-manor@gmail.com.