A HOST of historic buildings in South Cumbria are throwing open their doors to visitors next month as part of the Heritage Open Days Festival.

All the walks, talks and events listed below are free and are being held from Thursday to Sunday, September 8 to 11.

You can find out what it takes to be a bell ringer at St James’ Church in Blake Street, Barrow. There are tours up the spiral staircase to the ringing room and belfry, with demonstations, have-a-go sessions and history displays on Saturday from 10am to 12.30pm and Sunday from 2pm to 5pm.

Captain Shaw’s School, on Main Street, Bootle, has an exhibition of old pictures and memorabilia on Saturday, from 2pm to 4pm.

There is a series of guided tours at Gleaston Water Mill at 11.15am and 2pm on Thursday to Sunday.

The working water-powered corn mill was restored by owners Mike and Vicky Brereton and dates to 1774.

Tours are free but need to be booked by calling the Morecambe Bay Partnership on 01539 734888, sending an email to info@morecambebay.org.uk

You can explore Dalton Castle, in Market Place, from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

The 14th-century pele tower was formerly the manorial courthouse of Furness Abbey.

Here the abbott exercised his right to hold manorial courts and administer justice within the lordship of Furness, as authorised by the abbey's foundation charter of 1127.

The building would have contained not only the courtroom and one or two other rooms in which the business of the lordship was transacted, but also a jail, guardrooms and stores.

After the dissolution of the abbey in 1537, the castle continued as a courthouse for more than 300 years, owned at first by the Crown and then by the Dukes of Albermarle, the Dukes of Montagu, and finally the Dukes of Buccleuch.

Its interior has seen many alterations, the last and most radical being that of 1856 when three upper floors, accessible from a stone spiral staircase, were replaced by a single upper room and an extral stairway. Dalton Castle was given to the National Trust by the 8th Duke of Buccleuch in 1965.

You can find out all about the Steam Yacht Gondola, at Coniston Pier, Lake Road, Coniston, on Saturday from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Visitors can see archive material about the history of the yacht and view the luxurious interior saloons of this unique steamboat, which has just won Cumbria Tourism's Visitor Attraction of the Year, 2016.

Conishead Priory and Buddhist Temple, on the coast road, Ulverston, has free guided tours to tell you about the history of Conishead since it began as a hospital run by Augustinian monks in 1160, and its development as an international Kadampa Buddhist Centre since 1977.

It is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. St Margaret of Antioch Church at Low Wray, Ambleside, is open on Friday from 11am to 5pm and on Saturday from 11am to 5pm.

There is a talk at 4pm on Friday by Robin Cope and Vivian Griffiths on the role of Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley as a defender of the Lake District.

He was clergyman at St Margaret’s from 1877 to 1884. The Beatrix Potter Gallery, on Main Street, Hawkshead, is open from 10am to 4pm.

There are displays in the 17th century building which was once the workplace of the Lakeland author’s husband.

Claife Viewing Station, near Ferry House, Far Sawrey, is open on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

It was built in the 1790s overlooking Windermere for visitors seeking the picturesque and has been restored by the National Trust.

The 15 th century Hawkshead Courthouse is open on Saturday, from 10.30am to 4pm. Hawkshead Hill Baptist Chapel is in a converted 17th century barn and can be seen on Thursday to Sunday from 9am to 9pm. There are tours at 2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

There is a William Wordsworth heritage walk from 9am to 1pm on Thursday.

It starts from the gateway to Rydal Hall and ends in Grasmere.

Beatrix Potter’s home at Hill Top, Near Sawrey, is open from 10am to 4.30pm.

Expects queues at what is likely to be a very popular event.

The National Trust’s Allan Bank at Grasmere is open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday.

It was donated by Canon Rawnsley, founder of the National Trust.

The Victorian mock Gothic Wray Castle, at Low Wray, Ambleside, is open from 10am to 5pm on Sunday.

The 18th century Newland charcoal iron furnace, near Ulverston, is open on Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm and Sunday, from 10am to 4pm.

The water powered blast furnace was in use for about 150 years to produce pig iron.

Visitors can see displays showing the history of the furnace and its restoration and there are guided tours around the furnace and the surrounding hamlet.

Swarthmoor Hall, on Swarthmoor Hall Lane, Ulverston, is open on Thursday and Friday from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

The 16th century country house is set in beautiful gardens and grounds within 130 acres of farmland.

Six historic rooms have a fine selection of 17th century furniture.

The Georgian mansion at Calgarth Park, Troutbck Bridge was built in 1790 by Richard Watson, Bishop of Llandaff.

It can be visited on Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm, with tours at 10.30am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm.

Set in parkland and with views of Windermere, the house was frequently visited by poets Wordsworth and Southey.

In 1916 it was transformed into a hospital for First World War Belgian and British casualties. From 1920 to 1970, it was the Ethel Hedley Orthopaedic Hospital for Children and was converted into self-contained flats in the early 1970s.

The historic farmhouse at Town End, Troutbeck, is open on Saturday, from 1pm to 4.30pm.

Hear the story of the Brownes of Townend over a 400 year period.

The farmhouse has a quirky collection of domestic tools and carved furniture.

Hard hat tours lasting 45 minutes can be taken of new buildings at the Windermere Jetty boat museum on Rayrigg Road, Windermere, on Friday.

From 10am. Tours need to be booked by calling 015394 46139 or direct on the website at www.windermerejetty.org/jetty-event/heritage-open-day

You can check on events through the website at www.heritageopendays.org.uk