THE past is opening up this weekend as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days.

Today and tomorrow will see many buildings not normally accessible to the public, open up for free.

There is a whole range of things to see, including the Colne Lightship, the site of the only Roman Circus in Britain, as well as a number of the area’s churches and chapels, plus performances and tours bringing local history to life.

Highlights over the weekend include a guided walk as part of Colchester Arts Centre's Street Hunt project given by former Firstsite director Katherine Wood.

She will be highlighting the cultural legacy left by Henry Collins and Joyce Pallett and in particular the concrete murals they created for the town in the Seventies.

Her walk takes place tomorrow from Sainsbury's in Priory Walk from 10.30am.

As part of this year's Heritage Open Days, the Headgate Theatre will also be looking towards the future, by running tours of the old chapel building alongside their Volunteer Open Day.

Anyone interested in lighting and sound, stage management, scenic artists, costume or front of house, should pop along on the Sunday, between 10am to 4pm to find out more.

Also on Sunday, at the Colchester Arts Centre, local historian Alice Goss will be launching her debut book, Centuries of Change, about the former St Mary's at the Walls church.

She will also be conducting a tour of the cemetery outside from 2pm, while tours with Colchester Arts Centre director, Anthony Roberts, take place at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.

For more information click on www.colchesterartscentre.com.

Also on Sunday there will be a costumed, guided tour of the town, with the Siege of Colchester at 11am and Roman Colchester at 3pm.

They both start at the war memorial, outside the main entrance to Castle Park.

On both days from 10am to 4pm, Boxted Airfield Museum in Langham Lane, Langham, will be hosting two special free open days.

The Second World War American airfield, later RAF, was one of the most successful American units in Europe, home to the 56 and 354 fighter groups, 386 bomb group and American air sea rescue unit.

Over the weekend, visitors can see the B26 Marauder aircraft ‘Mr Shorty’ as well as take a guided walk and watch films about the airfield.

For more information click on www.boxted-airfield.com.

Finally, this weekend marks the start of Colchester and Tendring Open Studios with Cuckoo Farm at Boxted Farm opening up its doors to the more than 30 artist studios that are housed in the early 19th century farm buildings and formerly part of Severalls Hospital from 10am to 6pm.

For more information go to www.colchesteropenstudios.org.