THOMAS Hardy tours and free entry to some museums in Dorchester will feature in this year's September Heritage Open Day.

Planning for the event on Sunday, 15 September is now almost completed.

On show during the day will be the proposals to improve the entrance area to the Corn Exchange with tours also being offered of the upstairs Town Hall and Council Chamber with a display of the town council's historic maces.

At least a dozen guided walks will be available on the day including around Poundbury; a visit to the town's Roman aqueduct and various town walks with Blue Badge guides.

Events will start from 10am, continuing until 4pm.

Throughout the day the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery will be offering tours of their Collections Discovery Centre and a Thomas Hardy themed tour – all free of charge, although visitors will need to pay for a general entry to the museum.

The Keep Military Museum will be offering free entry all day, with the Shire Hall Museum offering free, bookable, guided tours. These will be taking place throughout the day (places will be limited), and will give visitors an insight into Shire Hall's history – from the architectural value of the building to the important stories of people who were tried at Shire Hall.

At the Bridport Road Dorset History Centre an exhibition of architectural plans which shaped Dorset will be on display, alongside a selection of Dorset's archaeological finds curated by the Portable Antiquities Scheme. A family activity and behind the scenes tours will run every hour from 10.00am – 3.00pm.

The details of the Heritage Open Day 2024 will be finalised over the coming days with a programme of promotion via posters, press releases and online marketing by Dorchester Town Council and the partners taking part in the event.