Buildings rarely open to the public were thrown open as part of an annual heritage day which also looked to celebrate more than interesting architecture.

Organised by Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage (MCGCH) in partnership with a number of organisations within the town and Merton Council opened up the cricket pavilion as part of Open House London on Saturday, but also co-ordinated the first Mitcham Heritage Day.

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Julia Gault, Peter Wright-Young, John Strover and John Davis admired the honours board in the pavilion

As well as opening the pavilion, which sports cricket memorabilia celebrating the green’s status as the first place the sport was ever played, the day saw the opening of Mitcham Parish Church, Mitcham Vestry Hall, Mitcham Methodist church, and for the first time, Canons House.

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Canons House was open to visitors

Guided tours were held linking the buildings, all run by volunteers from the various groups, which included alongside MCGCH, Mitcham Cricket Club, Mitcham Parish Church, Mitcham Methodist Church and Merton Council.

In particular, a tour was organised to talk people through the work being undertaken to secure a £4 million lottery grant by the Canons Partnership.

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Mitcham Methodist Church was also open for the day

Sandra Vogel, a trustee of MGCHC and the event co-ordinator, said: “It was a brilliant success, really well supported by all the organisations that ran events.

Hundreds of people attended by our count and there were lots of positive comments from people who  saw things they have never seen before."”

There were exhibitions and displays celebrating the area’s social history, bell ringing opportunities at the parish church and, of course, a cricket match.

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A cricket game took place on the historic cricket green. (Below) The match in action 

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