PERHAPS Winchester's biggest festival launched this evening with a reception in a suitably apt venue.

Heritage Open Days (HODs) got under way at Old Hyde House, in Hyde Street, built with the stones from nearby Hyde Abbey, the last resting place of King Alfred the Great.

This year will see 190 free events across Hampshire with many in and around Winchester between September 6-15.

The new chair is Liz King who is replacing Nicky Gottlieb who has been pivotal in growing the event in recent years.

(Image: Andrew Napier)

Ms King paid tribute to Mrs Gottlieb and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. "When she first got involved there were only a handful of events in Winchester. In 2016 Nicky decided Winchester could do better and grew it to 40. In 2018 the festival peaked pre-Covid at 140 events. This year there are 250 events across Hampshire; we are one of the largest Heritage Open Days hubs in England."

There are ambitious plans: a full history festival with the university with lectures, workshops and study days, starting in 2025; and a 'history of the High Street' project.

Highlights will include meeting the Anglo-Saxons at The ARC on Saturday September 7, 11am-5pm;

Regency dancers at the Great Hall, Saturday September 7, 11am-5pm;

Hospital of St Cross open day, Sunday September 7, 12-4pm;

Winchester College tours, Saturday September 14, 12-4pm;

Hyde 900 King Alfred Trail, Saxon activities table and Hidden in Hyde Trail Saturday and Sunday September 14-15, various times.

READ MORE HERE: King Alfred buses on the road for heritage festival

The Hampshire Chronicle office will also be open between 11am-1pm tomorrow, Friday September 6, with goodie bags for the first 50 people through the door.

The reception was organised by the trustees of Hampshire History Trust, a charity formed to run the annual HODs festival.

With heritage funding getting scarcer, Ms King thanked the festival's sponsors, Belgarum, Winchester BID, ADAM Architecture which hosted the event, Warren & Son, Andrew Smith & Son, Urban Green, Peter March Consulting as well as the city and county councils.

The full festival programme can be seen at www.winchesterheritageopendays.org