Open Village in Port Sunlight
Port Sunlight Village opens its doors to visitors for Heritage Open Days
Media release
Date of Issue: 26th August 2016
Port Sunlight Village Trust welcomes the return of Heritage Open Days from 3rd – 11th September and looks forward to being part of Wirral’s extensive programme of activity.
On Saturday 3rd September there will be free entry into Port Sunlight Museum from 10am – 5pm. Visitors will get the chance to view the latest special exhibition Port Sunlight in Focus 1896 – 1916 which explores the three local photographers who contributed most to the pictorial record of the village during its early years.
On Sunday 11th September ‘Open Village’ is back. Now in its 3rd year, this popular event provides an important opportunity to showcase Port Sunlight’s unique history and heritage and celebrate the hard work of both the residents and Port Sunlight Village Trust who work in partnership to preserve and promote the special character of the village.
From 11am – 4pm, the village will open its doors, gardens and buildings allowing access to areas normally out of bounds to visitors. A free trail will be available from Port Sunlight Museum gift shop for people to pick up and explore the village, meet residents, and enjoy privileged access.
Katherine Lynch, Heritage Manager at Port Sunlight Village Trust said:
“Heritage Open Days are extremely important and the History & Heritage Association do a fantastic job in making Wirral’s annual programme one of the best in the country. Our event ‘Open Village’ is very much in keeping with the spirit of this national initiative and we are delighted to share the experience with village residents and other Port Sunlight attractions, groups and societies.
“I don’t want to give too much away, but visitors can expect to get inside some of the village houses, receive crown green bowling tips from one of the village’s longstanding bowling clubs, and see inside Lever House – the former offices of Lever Brothers and now home to Unilever Port Sunlight.”
Lesley Owen Edwards, Senior Archivist and Records Management at Unilever Port Sunlight commented:
“Unilever is delighted to be part of this year’s Heritage Open Days. Come and visit the beautiful entrance to Lever House designed by William & Segar Owen and built for William Lever in 1895. An exhibition by Unilever Archives and Records Management will document the history of the building that was further enlarged with the addition of the South Wing in 1914.”
To find out more about Open Village contact [email protected]
To discover Wirral’s Heritage Open Day programme, pick up a brochure in Port Sunlight or visit Wirral History and Heritage Association’s website.
Notes to editors
About Port Sunlight Village Trust
Port Sunlight Village Trust is a an independent charitable trust responsible for preserving and promoting the Conservation Area of Port Sunlight, which was founded by William Hesketh Lever in 1888 for the employees of Lever Brothers Port Sunlight.
The Trust fulfils its mission through:
• Port Sunlight Museum and its associated public programmes
• Conserving and maintaining all of the village’s parks, gardens, monuments and memorials,
• Conserving, maintaining and operating the majority of the listed public buildings in the village and nearly one-third of the houses.
Media contact
Carol Darlington
T: 0151 644 4815
E: [email protected]