RESIDENTS are being invited to get in touch with their local history and architecture in a series of events over the coming weeks.

Heritage Open Days, which is a national scheme celebrating England’s architecture and culture, will be running for four days from today, Thursday September 9, and will include a variety of tours, events and free access to interesting properties normally closed to the public.

Attractions include tours around the Abbey Gateway, a viewing of the mosaic underneath the Alban Arena which hasn’t been seen for around 20 years and the Giant Monopoly Event on Sunday, September 12.

Other guided tours include a walk about film pioneer Arthur Melbourne-Cooper’s, two focusing on the history of the River Ver, a walk around Harpenden Common, a War of the Roses Walk, a Heritage Tree Walk and the Town Crown and Cloister Walk.

New highlights for this year include a tour around the former Odeon, access to Wheathampstead’s Old Railway Station and the Redbourn 900 celebrations.

Cllr Sheila Burton, portfolio holder for culture and heritage, said: “As our varied programme shows, you can be in touch with recent history, Roman history or natural history very quickly.

“Each year we try to add new sites and venues for residents to visit. Learning about your local history makes living here so much more interesting.”

The district council has produced a Heritage Open Days booklet detailing the events taking place which can be collected from the Tourist Information Centre.

More information on any of the events can also be found at www.stalbans.gov.uk

Charles Baker, tourism and regeneration manager at the council, added: “This is certainly going to be a weekend that you can’t afford to miss. There is so much going on. It is a real chance to get to know your city and district better.”