Visitors from across the county are seeing Huddersfield in a whole new light this weekend as the secrets behind the doors of historic buildings are unlocked.

The biggest event of its kind to take place in the  town in the Heritage Open Days' 20 year history, it has been leading inquisitive folk on eye-opening journeys around iconic and little before noticed sights.

A total of 27 free walks and activities are on offer over four days in the specially decorated  town centre and other hubs in Kirklees, which are uncovering all aspects of the area’s pasts.

One of the highlights is the first-ever public tours of the landmark Northumberland Street post office delivery office, an event that has been hailed as a very belated celebration of the opening of the building, which began operations in 1914.

Plans for an elaborate opening ceremony were scuppered after emergency wartime conditions were declared.

Post office manager, Andy Scott, and Huddersfield Civic Society chair, Chris Marsden, are leading groups of ex-workers and residents through the sorting rooms, where they talked about its past use as a telephone exchange, telegram and sorting office and allowed them to see the fusion of prosaic 1914 architecture with more industrial additions.

Andy said: “It’s great to finally let people see behind the scenes and I’ve learnt a lot that I didn’t know from the stories of those who came on the tours.”

Also open to those with cast iron nerves are the little known jail and mortuary in Holmfirth, Th’Owd Towser, 17th century Holy Trinity Church and Dewsbury Town Hall, which this year will celebrate its 125th anniversary.

Dewsbury Town Hall
Dewsbury Town Hall

Meanwhile, insights into the lives of early Jewish and Polish settlers, radicals and the formation of one of the county’s arguably best sports, rugby league, paid homage to the area’s vibrant and ethnically diverse heritage, alongside to demonstrations of traditional Pennine crafts such as clog making and spinning at Colne Valley Museum.

One of the weekend’s organisers, Chris Marsden, said: “It’s been a fantastic weekend and I’m so glad that so many people from across Yorkshire have come along- it’s a real boon to the town.

“I’ve got even bigger hopes for next year’s event and hope it encourages more people to open their premises.

“Even the most unsuspecting places will contain interesting histories.

“And following the tours of the delivery office we now plan to host an actual mayoral opening of it on October 31, 100 years after it opened."

Visitors can find out what will be on offer tomorrow by looking on the Heritage Open Days website: www.heritageopendays.org.uk.