A number of Grade II listed buildings will be open to the public to explore from 10.30-4pm.

Organised by the Debenham Society affiliated with the Civic Trust, visitors will be invited to attend a display at the information centre in the Long Room of the Grade II-listed Red Lion.

The building boasts a jettied dragon post, and visitors can collect a leaflet before heading off with a guide to tour the inside of five participating private homes.

Included are a 17th Century market cross building used as a school room from 1630 and the 16th Century yeoman farmhouse, where prayer text on a bressamer beam is a key feature of interest.

Also open to the public is The Old House, probably the largest medieval house in Debenham.

The scheme, started by the Civic Trust in 1994, has been run four times in Debenham, attracting up to 700 visitors from as far away as Kent and Oxfordshire.

It celebrates architecture and culture by giving the public free access to interesting properties that are not usually open to the public without an entrance fee.

Chairman of the Debenham Society, Andrew Grant-Adamson said: "I think that people are just fascinated to see the inside of other people's houses.

"We think it is important for people to have this opportunity.

"Most events like this include public buildings, but these are private houses and that makes Debenham different."

Debenham has more than 100 listed buildings, which are of exceptional quality. The Civic Trust is a leading UK charity dedicated to bringing vitality to the built environment. Each year it organises Heritage Open Days where more than a million people nationwide celebrate and explore their cultural and architectural heritage for up to four days in September.

For more information contact Lesley Grant-Adamson, 01728861601, or Lesley@crimefiction.co.uk

Webwatch:

www.debenhamsociety.org.uk

www.heritageopendays.org