Overton Community Centre will open its doors this weekend as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days, with a programme of guided tours, talks, exhibitions and activities planned for visitors.
The event takes place on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September, with guided tours starting from the gazebo outside the community centre’s main entrance.
On Saturday, tours will run at 10.30am, 11am, 12 noon, 1pm and 2.45pm. On Sunday, tours will take place at 11.15am, 12.30pm and 2.45pm.
Inside the Clubroom, visitors will be able to see an Overton Jane Austen Trails display, try their hand at Regency letter writing and find out more about the opening times of the historic Post Office.
There will also be a series of talks across the weekend.
Saturday’s talks begin at 2pm with The Life of These Walls, looking at the history of the Community Centre and the people who have used it over the years. At 3.30pm, Jane Austen’s Early Hampshire Life will explore Austen’s connections with Hampshire.
On Sunday, Overton in Jane Austen’s Time will be presented in two parts. The first, at 12 noon, will look at population, homes, business and literacy. The second, at 3.30pm, will explore the church, travel, poverty, illness, crime and punishment, and military service.
The Life of These Walls will also be repeated at 2pm on Sunday.
There will be plenty for younger visitors too. The playroom will feature a history display about the Community Centre, alongside a nature table, colouring and craft activities.
In the playground, activities will take place at various times throughout both days, including singing games, hopscotch, skipping and traditional wooden games.
The Heritage Open Days programme offers an opportunity to discover more about Overton’s history, while exploring the community centre and hearing stories about the people and events connected with the village.