SWOT up on your local history with free events across Gwent as part of the Welsh Government's Open Doors programme.

More than 300 of Wales's most iconic and unusual properties have signed up to this year’s programme which celebrates Wales’s Year of Adventure.

Funded and organised by Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Open Doors offers both locals and visitors to Wales the chance to explore new aspects of the country’s culture and history – it is the largest volunteer event in the heritage sector in Wales.

Much-loved properties, including but not limited to Cadw managed sites, will offer free entry, activities or events throughout the month of September, with some unique locations opening their doors to the public for the first time.

Cadw is offering the first 25,000 people to register through its Eventbrite page, free entry to its 23 paid-admission sites over the final weekend in September.

Some venues have a limited number of spaces or require advance booking.

Here's a list of events taking place;

Sunday, September 18

Open Doors - Llanhilleth Miners Institute

11am-4pm

Free

Llanhilleth Institute was built in 1906 by the miners who lived in the village and worked in the local.

They aimed to create a building which would serve the community by offering them educational opportunities, recreation and entertainment.

Dances, performances, meetings and talks were held in the beautiful main hall, a library was opened on the ground floor and an underground swimming pool was built beneath the building for the use of the village. The building fell into disrepair but was reopened in 2008.

Llanhilleth Institute is steeped in history and it has huge cultural significance in the area.

For more information, visit cadw.wales.gov.uk/opendoors

Wednesday September 14 to Saturday, September 24

Open Doors-Newbridge Memo

10am - 10.45am

Free

Newbridge Memo, also known as Celynen Collieries Institute and Memorial Hall, are Grade II and Grade II* listed buildings, in the heart of Newbridge, South Wales.

The buildings opened in the early part of the 20th century and provided a social escape for the local community.

The Memo has a stunning art-deco style auditorium and ballroom, which serves as a theatre, cinema, dancehall and music venue.

As part of Open Doors there will be ‘Taster Tours’ of Newbridge Memo. Each tour lasts between 30-45 minutes and will introduce you to the wonderful art deco style restoration that has taken place over the last decade.

Tours include a visit to the ballroom and the auditorium and will offer you the chance to experience a short taster film from the comfort of one of the luxurious and roomy velvet covered chairs.

Saturday September 17

Open Doors- All Five Churches in Caerphilly and the Aber Valley- St Ilan, St Martin, St Peter and Cenydd, St Catherine and St Andrew

10am - 4pm

Free

All these sites are churches belonging to the Church in Wales - varying in age from 12th century to only 53 years old

There will be displays of altar plate and vestments, searches of baptism, wedding, burial registers, refreshments at all churches.

Nature Day, children's activities, tours of churchyard and bell-tower, breakfast, soup lunch etc. - these activities vary between churches.

Saturday September 26 to Sunday, September 27

Open doors- Caerphilly Castle

11am - 4pm

Free

Join a tour with Caerphilly Castle's very own custodian. Find out more about its fascinating history and architecture and take a walk around to learn more about the largest castle in Wales.

Saturday, September 10 –Sunday, September 11

Open Doors — Monmouth - thirteen sites, co-ordinated by the Civic Society

2pm—5pm

Free

The thirteen properties that are participating are: Baptist Church (19th century non-conformist), Cornwall House (elegant 16th century townhouse), Great Castle House (impressive 16th century nobleman's house), The Kymin (NT), Masonic Hall (has served many functions, built in town wall), Monnow Bridge Gatehouse (iconic Monmouth symbol), Nelson Museum (valuable Nelson memorabilia), Nelson garden (green oasis with Nelson history), The Priory (part medieval), Shire Hall, St Mary's Priory Church, St Mary's RC Church.

Handouts are printed showing a picture of each property and giving a brief description, and a town map showing their locations.

The Shire Hall and Cornwall House take guided tours at set times.

Sunday, September 11

Open Doors — Croft Barn, Abergavenny

2pm - 5pm

Free

Recently restored Grade II* barn, built in 1580s with rare oak un-daubed panels, some of which survive and cruck and box framing.

The barn represents over 400 years of farming history having been a traditional corn barn, with threshing floor, adapted under the 'Homes for Heroes' county farm programme in 1930s and now a learning centre for heritage and viticulture.

Illustrated talk by Ken Bonham: Barns, their development, use and disuse. Ken will show models of building types and describe how local materials and agricultural use influenced design and construction. The talk is at 3.00pm followed by light refreshments.

Saturday, September 24 –Sunday, September 25

Open Doors — Chepstow Castle

11am - 4pm

Free

Join a tour with our expert guide.

Find out more about the castle's fascinating history and architecture, and take a walk around to learn more about this beautifully preserved monument.

The whole of Chepstow Castle is a lesson in longevity.

From around 1067 through to 1690, the castle, almost chameleon-like, changed its appearance as fashions changed in military architecture.

Century after century, the castle grew and grew along its narrow cliff top ridge. The oldest building is the Norman great tower, but building work continued well into the 17th-century as medieval battlements were replaced by stronger musket-friendly parapets. Bows and arrows were so last century.

Tours will be at 11am, 1pm and 3pm

Although admission to this event is free, it is a ticketed event.

Saturday, September 24 –Sunday, September 25

Open Doors — Raglan Castle

11am - 4pm

Free

Everything’s great about this place, from its great tower, which evokes memories of earlier fortresses like Caernarfon, to the great gatehouse, which ‘wows’ the visitor just as its owner intended. If, as they say, an Englishman’s home is his castle, then William Herbert’s Raglan is the Welshman’s equivalent.

Built for show rather than with battle in mind, it still held off Oliver Cromwell’s forces for thirteen weeks in one of the last sieges of the Civil War.

The castle was eventually taken and was systematically destroyed by parliament. Enough remains to still impress.

Raglan was begun in the 1430s, rather late in the day for castle building. Unfashionably late by some 150 years! Despite this, mod cons such as massive mullioned windows brought the design bang up-to-date, bathing rooms in luxurious light.

The oriel window, a bay to end all bay windows, is one of Raglan’s defining features.

Tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Although admission to this event is free, it is a ticketed event.

Saturday, September 24 –Sunday, September 25

Open Doors — Tintern Abbey

11am - 4pm

Free

Join a tour with Tintern Abbey's very own custodian.

Find out more about its fascinating history and architecture, and take a walk around to learn more about the site's tiny book rooms and vast cloister.

Tintern was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain, and the first in Wales. The present-day remains are a mixture of building works covering a 400-year period between 1131 and 1536. Very little remains of the first buildings but you will marvel at the vast windows and later decorative details displayed in the walls, doorways and soaring archways.

Tours will be at 11am, 1pm and 30pm.

Although admission to this event is free, it is a ticketed event.

Sunday September 25

Open Doors — Cwm Farm Cider House

2pm - 5pm

Free

Listed purpose-built C17 cider house with original fittings and nearby orchard of Perry pears, conserved by the Trust in 2003.

Guided tour and talk by owner on perry pear processes and other antique agricultural equipment on site.

Refreshments at Llangattock Lingoed church.

Saturday, September 10

Open Doors — Newport Cathedral

9am - 4pm

Free

Cathedral Church of St Woolos. Gwynllyw built the original church on the site c.500, which was replaced by a stone structure c.800 on the same site, signs of which remain. Norman arch; 15th Century tower. It was granted full cathedral status in 1949.

There will be a lunch time recital, 12 noon until 1.00 pm approx. Tower tours may also be available.

The cathedral is open every day; morning/evening prayer; choral evensong etc.

Saturday September 10 - Sunday, September 11

Open Doors — Tredegar House

10.30am - 5pm with last entry to the house at 4pm

Free

Dark arts, riotous parties, war heroism, crocodiles and crucifixes...Tredegar House has never been an ordinary household. A place of dark days and golden ages where flamboyance is at the heart of the history.

Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the whole of the British Isles.

Situated within 90 acres of beautiful gardens and parkland, this delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for a fantastic day out.

Ever wondered what's inside Tredegar House and its walled gardens? Here's your chance to explore, and to discover the secrets of the Morgan family who lived here for over 500 years.

Saturday September 17 - Sunday, September 18

Open Doors — Risca Museum

10am - 4pm

Free

Risca Museum occupies the ground floor of the Risca Colliers Institute, a grade 2 listed building constructed in 1916 and now owned by Caerphilly County Borough Council.

It contains an Edwardian chemist shop, a Victorian printing press, a model of an historic water pump created on a 3-D printer and many items of local interest.

The museum will be open all day on Saturday and Sunday highlighting the history of the Risca area.

Saturday, September 24 - Sunday, September 25

Open Doors — Caerleon Baths, Amphitheatre and Barracks

11am - 4pm

Free

Join a tour of the Baths, Barracks, Fosse and Amphitheatre in the company of our Roman expert.

The extensive remains of the legionary fortress at Caerleon lay claim to being one of the largest and most important Roman military sites in Europe.

Established in AD75 as the headquarters of the Second Augustan Legion, the legionary fortress of Isca took its name from the nearby River Usk.

Here on a flat site close to where ships could land supplies, the fortress and other buildings were laid out with characteristic Roman efficiency.

Tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

The tour begins at the Fortress Baths.

Torfaen

Saturday September 24 - Sunday, September 25

Open Doors — Blaenavon Ironworks

11am - 4pm

Free

The ironworks were at the cutting-edge of new technology.

Over two hundred years ago, a different form of cutting-edge technology enabled the power of steam to be harnessed, making Blaenavon possible and taking Wales’s industrial might to a new height.

Charging to casting. Charging took place at the ‘furnace top’ with coal, iron ore and limestone, before casting the molten metal in the yard below.

However, the ironworks is only one part of the story. The surrounding landscape is also revolutionary in its form and function. From mines to train lines, you can still trace the routes in and routes out, from raw material to finished product.

Tours at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Visit cadw.gov.wales/events/events-2016 for full event listings and details of properties taking part in the programme.