GRASMERE'S Allan Bank is among the many historic buildings and places flinging their doors open for free during this weekend's national Heritage Open Day weekend.

The National Trust house is open on Saturday, September 9, from 10am-5pm (last admission 4.30pm).

Events taking place throughout the day at the former home of William Wordsworth, include a special preview at 2pm of One Man and an Island about Hardwicke Rawnsley and the sale of a small island in Grasmere which sparked the birth of a conservation movement.

Lucy Barnfather is returning as part of C-Arts, showcasing pen and ink drawings inspired by the views from Allan Bank, or visitors can join South Lakeland Lace Makers in bobbin lace making. There will also be a special book signing by Wendy Ellwood for the latest edition in her series of squirrel sagas (www.squirrelsagas.com).

In Ambleside, at Millet on the university campus there will be a display of art from Charlotte Mason’s House of Education: Murals in Millet by local artist Fred Yates 1854-1919, copied from the works of Jean-Francois Millet which gave the building its name. More of Yates’s paintings plus nature notebooks created by former students are on show at the Armitt Museum, on Saturday, September 9, from 1pm-4pm.

Also included in Heritage Open Day weekend: Hawkshead Hill Baptist Church, Chapel Cottage, from Thursday-Sunday, September 7-10, 9am-9pm, tour Sunday 2pm. The chapel originated from a 1678 covenant to worship free of the authorised liturgy.

Colthouse, Hawkshead, early 17th Century Quaker Meeting House and burial ground, with Northern Friends Peace Board display, Friday-Sunday, September 8-10, noon-5pm.

Langdale: High Close YHA: explore the Victorian mansion and 11 acres of rare trees and shrubs in High Close arboretum. Running from Thursday-Sunday, September 7-10, 10am-4pm.

Chapel Stile: Holy Trinity Church, classic Westmorland country church with tour guide on hand, look for the stained glass window depicting St Francis with a red squirrel and local flora and fauna and the Millennium Tapestry made by people of the valley 15 years ago, plus information about local veterans of both world wars. Running from Thursday-Saturday September 7-9, 10pm-5pm; Sunday 1pm-4pm.

Elterwater: Merz Barn, Langdale, location of German émigré avant-garde artist Kurt Schwitters’s Merzbau sculpture, represented by a life-size photograph. Exhibitions, wildlife tours on request, from Thursday-Sunday September 7-10, 10am-5pm.

Wray: St Margaret’s Church, Low Wray, Friday, September 8, 11am-5pm, talk at 4pm: Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley and the Vital Defence of the Lake District, plus timeline display of Rawnsley’s life as influential founder of the National Trust and priest at Wray, 1877-1884 where he first met Beatrix Potter on holiday at Wray Castle, summer 1882. Church open Saturday and Sunday, September 9 and 10, 11am-4pm.

Wray Castle, Low Wray, Victorian mock-Gothic Castle: explore recently uncovered history of the castle, plus tours of the double boathouse, children’s activities, open free on Sunday, September 10, 10am-4pm.

Coniston pier, NT Steam Yacht Gondola: behind-the-scenes tour Friday, September 8, from 5pm-6.30pm, with archive material of its rescue and rebuild with luxurious interior saloon. Chat to engineers, see the stoked-up firebox and the re-carved and re-gilded ‘Sid’ the Sea Serpent. Children’s activity sheets and pirates’ certificates. Gondola was considered to be the original for Captain Flint's houseboat in Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons.

Troutbeck Bridge, Calgarth Park: built in 1790 and Grade II listed, frequently visited by Wordsworth and Southey. Built as gentleman's residence, transformed in 1916 to First World War hospital for Belgian and British casualties, later the Ethel Hedley Orthopaedic Hospital for Children, latterly into flats for older people. Sunday, September 10, 10am-4pm, talks and tours 10.30am, midday, 1.30pm and 3pm, plus old photographs and display of historic ladies' dresses and children's clothes.