THURSDAY this week marks the return of National Heritage Weekend.

Heritage open days were established by English Heritage - now Heritage England - in 1994. This year commemorates the 70th anniversary of the graded listing scheme which was introduced in 1947 following the Second World War.

It means hundreds of listed buildings across the county will be throwing open their doors to the public.

Among them will be the Rayleigh Town Museum. Located in a Grade 2 Listed building - in fact the oldest secular building in the Rayleigh Town Council Conservation area - the museum will be holding a special exhibition to celebrate the National Heritage Weekend.

The display will be showcasing all of the 38 Grade 2 Listed buildings and structures in Rayleigh. In addition the museum will have details of all the Rayleigh buildings on the “Local List” (just below grade 2 status) as well as details of all similar buildings within the Rochford District Council area.

In addition the museum will be hosting a photographic display of images of Rayleigh’s historic buildings – all which have come from the Echo archives.

The museum will be open on Thursday and Friday and all weekend from 10am to 4pm day with free entry.

The first 100 people who visit the museum and say “I saw details of this exhibition in the Echo newspaper” will each receive a free “I Love Rayleigh” car sticker.

Take a look at some of the Echo photos that will be part of the exhibition at the Rayleigh Town Museum which can be found at 91 High Street (now Pizza Express) in Rayleigh.

Among them are images from a fire in 1980 which tore through the Parish Rooms.

Another features a visit by Blue Peter’s resident gardener Percy Thrower visiting the Rayleigh Lodge gardens as well as That’s Life TV presenter Chris Serle opening a new toilet block in the

town.

For more information, visit rayleightownmuseum.co.uk

n For more details about historic homes across Essex that will be opening to the public as part of Heritage Weekend visit heritageopendays.org.uk