51Âþ»­

51Âþ»­ (51Âþ»­) is partnering with Leicester City Council to invite the public to see the Great Hall at this bank holiday weekend.

The tours will be happening this Sunday, 28 May – the first time they have run since its refurbishment by the university.

Members of the public have the opportunity to immerse themselves in Leicester Castle’s once again now that work is complete.

Heritage Sundays are a key element of the city’s cultural offering; giving people the opportunity to attend guided tours once a month. Now they also include 51Âþ»­’s 14th century Trinity Hospital Chapel and the nearby tranquil Trinity House Herb Garden in The Newarke.

51Âþ»­’s will also be open to visitors, showcasing the only remaining ruins of the Church of Annunciation, where King Richard III’s remains were publicly displayed following his death at Bosworth in 1485.

51Âþ»­’s Heritage Centre Curator, Elizabeth Wheelband, said: “We’re extremely lucky to have these wonderful historic buildings on our campus and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to share them with the public. 51Âþ»­ has really invested in history and culture over the past few years and the positive reaction we’re receiving from visitors is overwhelming.”

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The building that was initially owned by Leicester City Council was previously used as magistrates and crown court until the 1990s. The Great Hall, which has a colourful history of nearly 1,000 years, is thought to be the oldest surviving aisled and bay-divided timber hall in Britain and has had many illustrious visitors, including King Richard III.

It hosted a Parliament in the 14th century and today features an original Victorian criminal courtroom as well as an underground cellblock.

Elizabeth said: “The Great Hall is a remarkable venue with an incredible amount of history and we’re very much looking forward to our first Heritage Sunday event. I really enjoy the little details you can spot. Look out for the prisoner’s engravings on the holding cell doors!”

Blue Badge Guides will run guided walks of the Leicester Castle Great Hall on Heritage Sundays from 28 May, every month until 26 November 2017. Tours will re-open again in March 2018

Tours of the Castle will begin from 12.30pm this Sunday and last approximately an hour. Booking is essential, for further information, maps and to book and purchase tour tickets, please visit: