RARELY seen historical Stourbridge meeting places will be throwing open their doors to the public this weekend as part of Heritage Open Days 2016.

Stourbridge Quaker Meeting House will be opening on Saturday September 10 and Sunday September 11 and Stourbridge Masonic Lodge, based at The Talbot Hotel, will be throwing open its doors on Saturday.

Believed to be the oldest building in Stourbridge town centre still used for its original purpose, the Quaker Meeting House was built by Stourbridge Quakers in 1689 - the first year they could do so without breaking the law, following an era of religious persecution.

The Quakers say despite their old-fashioned image on the back of packets of oats - they are a small, dynamic body working to promote world peace, prison reform and human rights and ideal for those seeking spirituality but unwilling to sign up to a particular creed.

Visitors can attend for Sunday worship from 10am to 11am or between 11.15pm to 3.45pm on Saturday and Sunday for a look around the ring road fronting building, based in Scotts Road, off Enville Street and Forge Road.

Tea, coffee and squash will be available at the free open days - part of a national initiative supported by English Heritage to give people chance to see inside a variety of venues which are rarely opened to the public.

The Stourbridge Masonic Management Committee is also keen to showcase its historic Masonic Hall based at The Talbot Hotel in Stourbridge High Street which will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday.

Alan Payne, committee chairman, said: “People will be there from all the lodges to explain more and take visitors round.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Freemasons or wishing to take a rare peek inside the lodge is welcome to attend.

The Masonic Hall has been based in its present location within the hotel since the 1930s but Freemasons have been meeting at The Talbot since 1733.

Taking place for the third year running - the open day is part of a bid by the Freemasons to be more open-looking and help dispel some of the myths surrounding the organisation, which has long-been thought of as a ’secret society’.

Mr Payne is also keen to showcase the charitable side of Freemasons and he said: “We’re the second largest raiser of money nationally after the National Lottery."

To find out more about Heritage Open Days events go to www.heritageopendays.org