Opening our doors for charity (From Epsom Guardian)

Opening our doors for charity

3:32pm Thursday 30th August 2012

A new survey from Heritage Open Days finds that 44 per cent of British adults in Britain would be willing to open their home to the public.

Home, for most Brits, has long been where the heart is, but a new survey from Heritage Open Days shows that home is no longer our private preserve, as many of us are willing to open our doors for charity events, open art weekends or national schemes such as Heritage Open Days.

According to the survey, 44 per cent of respondents would only want to open their home to the public if they could control exactly what areas they could access– although 24 per cent say that they would be embarrassed to show their home to the public as it is a mess and too chaotic. And alongside being happy to show off our own homes, we’re always keen to have a nose around other people’s; 40 per cent of those who gave a preference would like to see around Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s private home, with 16 per cent keen to have a nose through Elton John’s glitzy home, and 9 per cent interested to see the inside of J K Rowling’s residence.

Heritage Open Days is a chance to see inside for free both private and public buildings, many of which (over 1,200) are not normally open to the public. The event takes place from September 6-9. Nonsuch Mansion at Cheam is one of the properties taking part in the event. The Service Wing Museum and Gallery will be open to the public from 2pm to 4.45pm on September 8 and 9.

This Tudor-gothic mansion was designed by Jeffrey Wyatt for wealthy merchant Samuel Farmer in 1806. The Service Wing has been restored and shows the working conditions for servants in the Victorian era. It includes dairy, sculleries, kitchen, larders and laundries. A number of properties in Leatherhead and Ashtead are also taking part in the event.

Visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk for more information on properties taking part.