HIDDEN treasures will be going on show during a week celebrating some of Dorset’s best buildings.

Homes, community facilities and attractions will be throwing open their doors for the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week from September 12-20.

Many of those open during the week are normally closed to the public.

Weymouth Civic Society is also joining in the week. It will be running guided walks of the town and have its Tudor House open as usual.

Society president Pru Bollam said: “The week helps make the public aware of the buildings that are part of our heritage.”

The society is giving guided walks to point out interesting buildings around Weymouth. The walks, lasting about an hour to an hour and a half, are on the Saturdays of September 12 and 19.

Walkers should meet at the front of the Pavilion at 11am.

The society’s Tudor House near Hope Square will be open Tuesday to Friday from 1pm to 3.45pm with guided tours available.

St Laurence Church at Upwey in Weymouth will also be open during the week, with guides from 2pm to 4pm each day.

Other buildings to open during the 16th annual week will include Puddletown’s Church Room and Shillingstone’s old railway station.

The Chiswell Earthworks and the Old Crown Court and Cells in Dorchester are also among the highlights.

The 2009 programme also gives visitors the chance to go behind the scenes at Kingston Lacy and Gold Hill Museum.

There are also leisurely walks planned around such places as Coombe Keynes, Christchurch, Wareham, Wimborne and Poole.

All of the events and buildings are listed in the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week (DAHW) booklet.

It is available now from libraries, tourist information centres and country parks as well as at some rural post offices. Some of the free events must be booked in advance and there is a booking form in the booklet.

Forms must be returned by Friday, August 21, for entry into a ballot to allocate tickets.

East Dorset Heritage Trust administers Dorset Architectural Heritage Week on behalf of the Dorset Architectural Heritage Week Association, a group comprised of the conservation officers from all nine local authorities in the county.

The full list of events can also be viewed at edht.org.uk People can also call the booking office on 01202 888992.