NEXT weekend’s open days at St Mary’s Abbey will be the end of an era for the Halesowen Abbey Trust.

The open days, which will reveal the mysteries of the historic Abbey, are the only ones this year and the last organised by the Trust.

With planning consent passed for barn conversions and a visitors centre on the site English Heritage will now take over responsibility of future open days.

Chairman of the Abbey Trust Roy Burgess said: “Next weekend is the only time this year that the public can come and see Halesowen Abbey so it should be a wonderful couple of days.

“This will be the last we organise because next year English Heritage will be in charge of open days so this will be the last chance people can come and have a look around for a long while.

“I’ve been doing them for 25 years so it is certainly the end of an era.“ Though the Halesowen Abbey Trust will no longer operate the popular open days at the Manor Way site the organisation will continue.

Mr Burgess said: “We used to run the open days on behalf of English Heritage so are just handing the responsibility back to them, however, we are not disbanding and will concentrate on campaigns about the Abbey.

The Abbey, which was founded in the 13th Century and fell into ruin after Henry VIII ordered its closure, is seen as one of the most important relics in the Midlands.

Dudley Council passed a planning application earlier this year which will see six barn conversions and a visitor’s centre being built on the site.

The Halesowen Abbey open days are being held on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 between 11am and 4pm.