Open Heritage Events To Tell 'Fascinating Stories' Of Belfast Doorways

The fascinating stories behind Belfast's doorways are to be highlighted during this year's Open Heritage Belfast free programme of events from Monday September 5.

Open Heritage Belfast is followed by the European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) weekend on Saturday and Sunday September 10-11.

Belfast Lord Mayor Councillor Christina Black said: "We love working with Ulster Architectural Heritage to deliver the Open Heritage Belfast programme. It's a great celebration of Belfast's historic buildings and places – and because the events are free and happening right across the city – both in person and online, everyone can get involved!

"This year's programme is taking a fascinating angle, exploring how Belfast's doorways are gateways to the history which lies within our most iconic buildings. This one architectural feature can help unlock the history and development of our great city. I'd encourage everyone to visit the UAH website and get booking their place on a tour or workshop, it's going to be a lot of fun."

Paul Harron, Chief Executive of Ulster Architectural Heritage said: "Often we can walk past the buildings around us without really taking in what they look like and might be “saying” to us through their architectural style and detail. Belfast has actually got a wonderful array of fascinating, varied and beautiful doorways which can tell us so much about our history and even just provide us with great visual enjoyment. We are so pleased to be able to partner with the City Council in this year's Open Heritage celebration of the city centre's interesting entrances and to encourage us all to stop, look and notice some of the doorways of delight around us, with the aid of an attractive and informative guidebook (drawing on the information in Ulster Architectural Heritage's great publications) and complementary online and in-person tours and associated activities."

UAH has designed an accompanying book, featuring 30 celebrated doors from across the city. The photography featured has all been taken on a mobile phone, highlighting how accessible it is to enter the world of photography. The publication is filled with facts, history and information to help you start your own research journey on Belfast city centre's architectural history and will be available to pick up free of charge from selected EHOD sites and Belfast City Hall.

Associated walking tours will take place, along with oral history and photography workshops. A children and young person's activity trail and colouring sheet will be available to download from the UAH website, as well as an online guided tour featuring a series of interesting doorways, for those who are not able to join in person.