A popular heritage and history festival is set to bring to life some of the iconic sites around Braintree and Bocking.

Running across two weekends in September, the Heritage Open Day event gives residents unprecedented access to some of the town’s historical assets.

From today until Sunday, residents can visit Braintree Town Hall, in Farfield Road, where the clock tower and basement will be open to explore.

Tours of the Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens are also on offer from members of the gardens’ trust.

Residents of the iconic Bradford Street will be available to give eye-opening tours of the street, which used to be home to many of the town’s wealthy wool merchants.

Revellers are invited to take a walk through one of the oldest parts of Braintree where you can explore “Hell’s Gate” and wonder about Little Hell, Great Hell and Damnation.

The Friends of Bradford Street unveiled a new historical guide to the road in May, which explores its colourful past up to the present day.

As well as these interesting events, next Thursday through to Sunday the historic Bocking Windmill is set to open its doors to the public.

Guided tours of Braintree’s original industrial area and the mill will be on offer for residents looking to learn more about where they live.

Members of Braintree Society, formerly the Braintree and Bocking Civic Society, are keen to promote and increase awareness of the town’s heritage.

The Heritage Open Day festival, which started in 1994, aims to throw open the doors of historic monuments and buildings which are normally closed to the public.

Over the years the festival has grown and now includes guided walks of streets and other places of historic interest.

There is no need to book any of the events, except the tours of Bradford Street.

To book or find out more, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk.