RADCLIFFE Parish Church is taking part in this weekend's Heritage Open Days.

The national celebration of architecture and culture is designed to allow the public free access to buildings which they may not usually be able to visit.

The Parish Church of St Mary is a medieval parish church, and therefore quite rare in the North West. In fact, it is one of only a dozen or so surviving in the Diocese of Manchester. It is also a Grade 1 listed building.

The Tithebarn Street church is normally open only for services. Sadly, the risk of theft and vandalism means it is not possible to leave it open unless there are people who can staff it.

But, thanks to volunteers, it will be open from 10am to 8pm today (Fri Sept 7) and tomorrow and from 12.15pm to 6pm on Sunday, and from 10am to 4pm on Monday. On view will be some old documents which have not been on public display before. These records include the Enclosure Acts of 1812 and the Commutation of Tithes Act of 1841.

The Enclosure Acts put common land into private hands, and you can read details of the houses and fields which existed then. Many current road names can be traced to the old field names.

The Tithes Act allowed people to pay their tithes to the church in money rather than in kind so people could give the church cash rather than sheep, goats, pigs, crops, fruit and vegetables.

These papers also indicate the occupations and the wealth of the then inhabitants.

During the open days there will be a cafe and craft fair in Church House in Church Green.