A WINCHESTER-based historical group has put on its yearly Heritage Open Day.

Hyde900, a community group created to celebrate Hyde Abbey's 900th anniversary, organised walks, tile making classes and more to teach kids and adults alike about the area's rich history.

The event was held at St Bartholomew's Church, Hyde, over two days on the weekend beginning on Saturday, September 14 – the Chronicle attended on Sunday.

There was a charming community feeling and the good weather helped draw more people than usual, as Hyde900 member Fran Sluman explained.

She said: "We were toying with doing it this weekend or last weekend. It’s been lucky for us because the weather’s great. There’s been quite a lot of people around. It’s always a challenge getting people here from the town."

READ MORE: Hyde900 Heritage Open Days: hunting the lost abbey

Rosemary Walker and Lynne Keeble of Hyde900 (Image: Sebastian Haw)

Jan Theodore, landlady of The Hyde Tavern, was in charge of tile making, helping revellers to replicate the medieval clay tiles commonly used in masonry centuries ago.

Elsewhere, Queen Emma, who married King Ethelred in 1002 AD and moved to Winchester from Normandy, the land of her birth, was dressed in full 11th-century garb, except for the shades she had put on to block out the blinding sunlight.

As well as all this, there were guided walks around Hyde to show kids just how many ancient remnants are built into local walls.

There are now also plans to revive the group's traditional archaeological dig, always popular with children, which has not happened since 2023.

Fran said: "I think what’s lovely about this is when you get the kids digging – just the excitement of finding stuff deep down."

SEE ALSO: Merger for Hyde Abbey charities in Winchester that hailed King Alfred

There was also Jo Morgan, from Hyde Abbey Garden, who was showcasing this year's abundance of fruit and veg, as well as encouraging people to volunteer to help keep the garden going.

Hyde Abbey was the final resting place of King Alfred, his wife and his son. It was destroyed by Henry VIII, but three stones now mark the place where it is supposed they were buried.

Anyone interested in joining Hyde900 for their activities, or the Hyde Abbey Garden volunteer group, can visit hyde900.org.uk.