Step back in time on Carrick’s heritage trail

EUROPEAN Heritage Open Day participants in Carrick can travel back in time this weekend.

The programme includes a guided walking tour of Carrick town and walls on Saturday, starting at Carrick Museum shop at 11am and 2pm, lasting approximately one and a half hours.

The tour goes around the historic walls, built in the early 17th century by Sir Arthur Chichester. The story of Carrickfergus will be told along with accounts of the exciting discoveries made in many excavations that have taken place in the town.

Flame, the gasworks museum, joins in the heritage feast on Saturday and Sunday, 2pm - 5pm. At Ireland’s last remaining coal gas works, visitors will be able see how the gas, which gave light and heat to Carrickfergus for over 100 years, was manufactured in Europe’s largest surviving set of horizontal retorts.

The borough’s connection with the wider world will be highlighted too at the Andrew Jackson and US Rangers Centre on Saturday and Sunday 2pm - 5pm with tours 3pm and 4pm both days.

This 18th century thatched stone cottage has been restored as a tribute to Andrew Jackson, 7th president of the USA, whose parents lived nearby. A museum of the US Rangers formed in Carrickfergus in 1942 is housed in the grounds.

This popular celebration of built heritage, organised by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), is a once a year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy tours and events that bring history and culture to life.

Other local venues include the Town Hall, St Nicholas Church, Carrickfergus Castle and Whitehead excursion station.