National Trust: What’s On In 2019

The National Trust have launched their cultural programme for 2019, including a series of events commemorating protests, marches and demands for social change inspired by the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre. Check out the exhibitions, experiences and restorations due to open this year…

People’s Landscapes, various locations

This year the National Trust will be launching a series of events which explore the themes of protest and social change, inspired by the 200^th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre. Two of the trust’s properties, Dunham Massey and Quarry Bank, have direct links to the 1819 massacre, which saw thousands of pro-democracy and anti-poverty protestors gathering in St Peter’s Field in Manchester – a catalyst for Chartism and other worker’s rights movements. Events will also be taking place across Durham Coast, Tolpuddle Martyrs Tree and Kinder Scout. From summer 2019

Heritage Open Days: Unsung Stories

The country’s largest festival of history and culture, Heritage Open Days will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. Across 13-22 September, over 5,000 events will take place surrounding the theme of ‘People Power’ – again linked to the anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre – looking at protest marches, rebel songs and peaceful demonstrations throughout history. 13-22 September 2019

Sutton Hoo, Suffolk

Discovered by archaeologists in 1939, Sutton Hoo is the site of two 6^th and early 7^th century cemeteries, one containing an Anglo-Saxon ship burial and all of its artefacts. At the moment it is being transformed to help visitors understand more about its history, with a 17-metre high observation tower being built to give views over the entire burial ground. From summer 2019

Sissinghurst, Kent

For the first time, Sissinghurst Castle’s garden will be open to guests throughout the winter. Join a guided tour to learn about the romantic history of Sissinghurst Castle: a magnificent collection of Tudor buildings and grounds which writer Vita Sackville-West and husband diplomat Harold Nicolson made their home in 1930. From spring 2019

Rainham Hall, London

A new exhibition celebrating the life of iconic designer Anthony Denney will be opening at his former home of Rainham Hall. Denney’s work featured in British Vogue and House and Garden, as well as a number of other influential titles. This will be reflected in the exhibition, which is presented as if it were itself a magazine, with different spaces representing fashion, jewellery, arts, interiors, gardening, food and travel. 25 May 2019-2021

Wentworth Castle Garden, Yorkshire

South Yorkshire’s only Grade 1 registered landscape will re-open this summer under National Trust management. Guests will be able to explore a mock medieval castle, the first glasshouse to be lit by electricity, and one of the last surviving Victorian winter gardens. From summer 2019

Powis Castle, Powys

To commemorate 80 years since the start of the Second World War, Powis Castle will be opening its top floor, which stood as a refuge for a girls’ school during the war. The rooms will be reimagined as the girls’ dormitories, alongside audio recordings and photographs to bring the story to life. 26 March 2019-2021

The Workhouse, Nottinghamshire

Built in 1824 as a refuge for the destitute and used right up until the 1980s, The Workhouse in Nottinghamshire is the most complete 19th-century workhouse in existence. This spring it will be revealing the results of a five-year project, which includes a recreation of the workhouse’s original Firbeck infirmary, giving visitors access to previously unexplored areas of the site. Through multi-sensory rooms, exhibitions and reimagined historic spaces, visitors can learn about the history of the infirmary, which was in use up to the 1980s. Visitors can explore the new library space, which is filled with archives, journals and letters, and attend events and activities surrounding the themes of poverty and social health care provision. Opening 23 April

The India Club: A Home Away From Home

This January a new immersive exhibition will be opening at The India Club on The Strand, shining the light on its rich history. Originally located at 41 Craven Street, The India Club was an important meeting point for migrants arriving from India, and it became a hub for the rapidly growing British South Asian community in the aftermath of Indian independence and partition. Through a newly-formed archive of interviews, visitors can hear stories of those connected to its history, from freedom fighters to BBC reporters working in nearby Bush House to artists to writers. 31 January-28 February 2019

READ MORE: The Best Art Exhibitions in London / What’s On In The Country?