Durham Markets is inviting locals and visitors to take a walking tour into the past of this central Durham site with free history tours for Heritage Open Days.

Members of the public are invited to sign up for a guided tour of the site on either Thursday 7th or Friday 8th September at 10.30am, with local historian David Butler hosting the Thursday tour and Durham Markets Company Managing Director Colin Wilkes doing so for Friday.

Colin commented: “Durham Markets is a relative newcomer to this site having been here around 170 years.  Earlier diverse uses for this location have included a workhouse and a luxurious palace and gardens.  This is an opportunity to find out how this site fitted into the history of Durham City, and to see our Victorian Market Hall in a new light.”

Heritage Open Days is an annual event during which numerous sites across the United Kingdom open their doors to the public to allow them to explore and learn more about some of our unique buildings.  In addition to the annual Heritage Open Days tours, Durham Markets Company hosts monthly free history tours on the second Thursday of each month, guided by David Butler.

Colin added: “The tours have proved extremely popular, with some people returning a month or so later with further questions about the building, and others sending friends, family and visitors to enjoy the tour.  For anyone with a fascination about our buildings and this city’s past, we’d recommend you reserve your place on the tour so that you don’t miss out.”

Heritage Open Day tours of Durham Market Hall are at 10.30am on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th September.  The next regular monthly History Tour is at 10.30am on Thursday 14th September.

For all tours numbers are limited and places should be reserved in advance by calling Karen on 0191 384 6153 or emailing durhammarkets@yahoo.co.uk .