Heritage Open Days is England’s annual celebration of local history, architecture and culture. Co-ordinated nationally but run with the help of thousands of volunteers, the September event is an opportunity for private owners to allow free access to properties and events which cast a light on what makes neighbourhoods and communities special. It’s a once-a-year chance to uncover and discover hidden treasures and rarely told stories.
11am – 1pm Cemetery Records 
Foster Hill Road Cemetery Chapel will be open for anyone who would like to study the cemetery records from 1855 to date. You can trace interments of long lost relatives or just look at the records on display. Help will be available for anyone searching for specific graves.
JOIN US FOR GUIDED SUMMER WALKS THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL CEMETERY GROUNDS
2.00 pm Stories Behind the Headstones
Learn about Bedford’s heroes and villains, the brave and the bad, the mysterious and the downright weird, and why gravestones look the way they do. All Human Life is Here!
2.30 pm Crime and Punishment
This walk take you on an interesting journey through Bedford’s 19th Century criminal past, visiting various graves in the cemetery that include an innovative Prison Governor, a murder victim and a policeman.
2.00 pm – 3.30 pm General Heritage Walks
Heritage Walks will try to cover all aspects of the cemetery’s life (or death). They will look at military memorials, complete family groups, local worthies, children and just curious ones. These walks will take place every half an hour starting at 2.pm and will last about an hour. The last walk will be at 3.30.
All walks are free – Meet at the Chapel 10 minutes before the start of the walk
There will be refreshments available at the end of the walks for a small charge.
(Please note: The cemetery ground is uneven so please wear appropriate shoes.
When viewing memorials, please do not lean on them.)
From 2pm until 4 pm we will also have a stall selling bric-a-brac, ornaments, trinkets, baubles, curios, and other miscellanies. So come along and grab yourself a bargain.
Tea and home made cake will be available for a small charge.