Liskeard Unlocked Heritage Open Days

Liskeard Unlocked is part of Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture and takes place every September. This year it runs from Friday 6^th to Sunday 15^th September and will be celebrating ROUTES, NETWORKS AND CONNECTIONS old and new. That includes Liskeard’s links to the mines on the moor, the routes to Looe and our recent twinning agreement with Kopycyhyntsi in Ukraine.

There will be walks, talks, exhibitions and, as always,  the chance to see behind doors which are usually closed. And, it’s all FREE.

Download the Liskeard Unlocked 2024 Leaflet Here – link to follow. 

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Friday 6th – Sunday 14th September

• Station Road – THE Place to Live. The main railway line from Plymouth to Penzance opened in 1859, connecting Liskeard with London and beyond. This exhibition includes artefacts and photographs connected to the new Railway Station, as well as research into the occupants of the new family homes that sprung up along Station Road. Liskeard & District Museum, open weekdays 10am-4pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm (closed Sundays)
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• Well Connected. Dive Into the Rich History of Liskeard and its Interconnected Villages, Where the Flow of Water Binds Us Together. Discover the stories of our local wells through vintage imagery, maps, memories and community ties that transcend time. A brand new exhibition and activities for all ages. Liskeard & District Museum, weekdays 10am – 4pm, Saturdays 10am-1pm (Closed Sundays)
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• Exhibition of Photographs of Routeways and Communications in Liskeard. An Interactive exhibition where visitors can uncover clues about some of Liskeard’s features to help identify them. There will also be a Kingwell Family Art and Craft Sale in the Gallery. Stuart House, open 9.30am-3.30pm (Closed Wednesdays and Sundays)
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• Immersive Walks in the Local Area in the Comfort of the Library. Immersive Walks of the local area available to watch on a screen or through VR headsets.  Liskeard Library, open 10am-5pm (Closed Sundays, open until 7pm on Thursdays)
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• Celebrating Ukrainian Art, Craft and Food. See art inspired by Ukrainian culture in the bus shelters and enjoy a taste of Ukraine at local food businesses.

Saturday 7th September

• The Wondrous Well of Lyskiret. Help Liskeard and District Museum unlock the flows of time at the Well of Lyskiret. Stop by the Pipe Well to share tales and trinkets for Liskeard Unlocked. Crafts, costumes and chatty museum volunteers to be expected! Pipe Well, Well Lane, 10am-1pm
• Our Lady and St Neot Catholic Church. View a display of Church plate and vestments and tour the building. 10am-4pm.

Sunday 8th September

• Smugglers Way Accessible Ramble. The Smugglers Way links Looe to Liskeard and onward to North Cornwall. The ramble will cover a nature-rich part of the route near Duloe. It is accessible for people on foot and in trampers but not ordinary wheelchairs. No dogs. Duration approx 2 hours. Maximum 30 people and 10 vehicles.
  Pre-booking is essential – email Liskeard Tourist Information Centre at [email protected], call 01579 349148. Registration opens 19^th August at 10am, and closes 7^th September at 12 noon. Meet at North end of Tremadart Woods (exact location given when booking) at 2pm.

Tuesday 10th September

• Nicholas and Alexandra – Tyrants and Martyrs of Imperial Russia. Illustrated talk for Liskeard Arts Society. Liskeard Public Hall, 7pm-8.45pm.

Thursday 12th September

• The Great Cornish Emigration. True stories of Liskeard and District Emigrants, a talk by Brian Oldham for Liskeard Old Cornwall Society. Liskeard Library, 6pm-7.30pm.
  Pre-booking is essential – email Liskeard Tourist Information Centre at [email protected], call 01579 349148. Registration opens 19^th August at 10am, and closes 9^th September at 12 noon.

Saturday 14th September

• Liskeard Local Produce Market  A local produce market including a selection of food and drinks from the local area, to celebrate Liskeard’s connection with Kopychyntsi, the market will have a distinctly Ukrainian flavour. Also featuring stalls selling arts and crafts produced by local artists. Cattle Market Canopy, 10am-1pm
• Crying the Neck. The ancient Pagan ceremony where farming communities give thanks at the end of harvest time (organised by Liskeard Old Cornwall Society. Cattle Market Canopy, 4pm
• A Taste of Ukraine – Connecting with Kopychyntsi. Celebrate our connection with Kopychyntsi in Ukraine through Ukrainian and Cornish food, song and dance. We’ll be linking live with Kopychyntsi and playing and singing them the Ukrainian national anthem. Food and drink available to buy. Free tickets available from Liskeard Tourist Information Centre – email [email protected], call 01579 349148. Liskeard Public Hall, doors open 4.30pm, music from 5pm, event ends 8pm.

As always a number of houses and buildings will be open:

• • The Wondrous Well of Lyskiret. Come and see the Pipe Well with the gates open so you can see the lovely stonework as well as the water source. Chat to Council volunteers about its history. Pipe Well, Well Lane, 10am-1pm
  • Our Lady and St Neot Catholic Church. View a display of Church plate and vestments and tour the building. 10am-4pm.
  • Tours of the Workshed. See how redevelopment is progressing. 10am-1pm.
  • St Martin’s Church and Bells Explore St Martin’s Church, see the history behind the building and how it has been a place of Christian worship for over 800 years, you can even have a go at ringing one of the bells. St Martin’s Church, Plymouth Road, 10am-2pm
  • Liskeard Radio. A chance to participate in live studio broadcasting and video-streaming to the community and to see the tech involved in creating shows. 12 noon-4pm.
  • Liskeard Guildhall – Future Plans. This Grade 2* Listed Building was originally constructed as a magistrate’s court, council office and market. It was converted for commercial use in the 1980s and has not been open to the public for several decades. The Town Council has been working with heritage experts to redevelop the Guildhall and make it fully accessible, plans will be on display. 1pm-3pm.
  • Westbourne House A visual history of the house and its occupants will be on display. Many features from the 19th and 20th Centuries can be seen to combine interestingly with the high-tech offices of the current owners. Free refreshments available. 1pm-4pm.

Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th September (Pre-Viewing Evening Friday 13th September, 6.30pm-9pm)

• Market Makers Open Studios. An exhibition of local arts and crafts from the Liskeard Market Makers which is inspired by the rich mining heritage of Liskeard. This is a one off event in a beautiful former cider press, nestled in the Cornish countryside. Only one mile from the centre of Liskeard if on foot but plenty of off road parking for drivers. Cider Cottage at Woodhill Manor, 10am-4pm. What3words:  ///chained.stealing.meatballs

Sunday 15th September

• Walk Caradon – Discover the Workplaces and Stories of Liskeard Miners. Walk Caradon and discover more about the lives of the copper miners that lived in Liskeard and walked the seven miles return journey to work. Approx 3 miles, 2 hours with stops at several sites. Maximum 25 people.
  Pre-booking is essential – email Liskeard Tourist Information Centre at [email protected], call 01579 349148. Registration opens 19^th August at 10am, and closes 12^th September at 1pm. Meet at Tokenbury Corner, 2pm.

Virtual Tours

You can see videos of some historic properties in Liskeard on the Liskeard Unlocked Virtual Tours page.

Take a tour through some of the beautiful houses and gardens of Liskeard, sit alongside the driver of the Looe Valley Line, peek inside the signal box at Liskeard station and join our Facilities team in winding the Guildhall Clock. Find out about the history of the Looe Valley Line with rail explorers Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe.

You can also watch online talks about the Liskeard wool industry, Stuart House and ‘A Look in Liskeard’s Larders in Times Gone By’ which were given for Liskeard Unlocked in previous years.