Drop-in activities showcase Cambridge’s hidden treasures

All Saint’s Church on Jesus Lane, known as the Painted Church, is one of Cambridge’s hidden gems. Over two weekends, the public are invited to admire the hand-painted walls and take in an informal tour by volunteers (7/8 September) and admire some exquisite vestments and embroideries by Watts&Co (14/15 September). The works in this exhibition will give visitors a better appreciation of and connection with church textiles over the 150 years of Watt's existence.

Connect Cambridge past and Cambridge present and explore the Grade II listed Histon Road Cemetery. On Sunday 15 September volunteers from the Friends of Histon Cemetery will be offering historical and wildlife tours or you can just enjoy a walk through the cemetery and discover the stories of the people who are buried there. Either way, come along and enjoy the best surviving example of a Victorian "garden cemetery".

Enjoy more nature by having a stroll around the gardens of Wolfson College, Cambridge with their tree and poetry trails. The Wolfson Poetry Trail features a selection of poems written by Wolfson staff and students all set in the gorgeous surroundings of the college gardens. The Wolfson Tree Trail takes you on a journey through the gardens while taking in some of the unique trees planted there. Pick up your trail map from the Porter’s Lodge and enjoy.

A typical Watts & Co. chasuble

View across Histon Road Cemetery towards St Luke's Church, Victoria Road

Town End Close nature reserve

Girton’s only nature reserve, Town End Close, is hosting an open evening on Friday 6 September. A small nature reserve with ridge and furrow pattern, volunteers from the Girton Green Team and the Local Nature Recovery Plan to find out more about the plants, birds, insects and pond life found at the reserve.

Dubbed ‘a shining light’ by an aspiring female engineer, Hertha Ayrton (1854-1923) was an expert on electrical lamps who also provided a metaphorical beacon for young women struggling to enter the male-dominated world of science. A talk organised in partnership with the Women's Engineering Society, will look at Ayrton’s life and career and some of the obstacles she faced.

The Cambridge Buddhist Centre will be open to the public on Saturday 7 September. There will be tours of the Grade II listed Festival Theatre, one of only two of its kind in the UK. There will also be an opportunity to experience what the Buddhist Centre has to offer, including meditation and wellbeing taster sessions.

The entrance of the Cambridge Buddhist Centre.

The entrance of the Cambridge Buddhist Centre.

The Cambridge Quakers again have many events planned during Open Cambridge including a talk on Physicist and Astronomer, Arthur Eddington, a talk on the visionary whose heretical beliefs electrified the nation 370 years ago and who still inspires Quakers today, George Fox, a reflection and conversation on the virtue of Love, open to all, presented jointly by the Quaker and Baha'i communities as well as an open day on Saturday 7 September at the Jesus Lane Friends Meeting House.

The entrance to the Quakers Friends Meeting House on Jesus Lane.

The entrance to the Quakers Friends Meeting House on Jesus Lane.

A talk hosted by local community group, the Mill Road History Society, will introduce you to the life and the beautiful and extensive work of Mr Leach of City Road. Frederick Leach set up his firm of Artworkers at workshops in City Road in Cambridge in 1862 and worked for some of the most prestigious names in architecture, design and the decorative arts.

Join Cambridge Makespace as they celebrate over 10 years of making, inventing and collaboration at Cambridge’s city centre makerspace on Saturday 14 September. This is a chance to tour the workshops and see all kinds of equipment, ranging from 3D printers to the glassworking area. You will also be able to see previous making projects, including professional prototypes and educational and hobbyist makes created by our membership of engineers, artists, biologists, games developers, costume designers, roboticists, guitar builders and many more.

Cambridge Makespace Workshop

Cambridge Makespace Workshop

The full programme can be viewed on our website: https://www.opencambridge.cam.ac.uk/events.

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Published: Friday 6 September 2024

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