MORE than 15 doors across Comet country were flung open as part of the national Heritage Open Days. Co-ordinated by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, Heritage Open Days celebrate England s fantastic architecture and culture by offering

MORE than 15 doors across Comet country were flung open as part of the national Heritage Open Days.

Co-ordinated by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, Heritage Open Days celebrate England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties usually closed to the public or that normally charge for admission.

On Saturday, free entry to Hitchin Museum revealed displays of the town's industrial and social past and a talk on the history of St Ippolyts Church from 1087 until the present day included a discussion on the restoration of the church during the 19th century.

Victoria Harrison and her daughter, Marie, attended a talk on the history of St Mary's Church, Shephall, Stevenage, where Victoria and her mother both made their wedding vows.

The Hitchin Society organised tours of The Biggin, a timber-framed building with a central courtyard dating from 1361, and guided tours of Baldock's recently refurbished Grade II listed Georgian manor house were also available.

In Hitchin, other places of interest open to the public without charge included the British Schools Museum, the Town Hall, Holy Saviour Church, St Mary's Church, Walsworth Road Baptist Church and there was also a guided walk of Hitchin's medieval town centre. Open nearby was St Katharine's Church, Ickleford.

In Stevenage, Europe's premier space company - Astrium EADS - opened its doors as did the Gordon Craig Theatre and St Mary's Church. There was also a guided walk of the Old Town High Street.