MEMORIES of times gone by will be evoked this weekend in East Tilbury when the village hosts its bi-annual Bata Open Day.

The Bata building in the village is a symbolic remnant of an industrial which produced shoes for over 70 years.

Founded in 1932 by Tomáš Baa, the factory was "one of the most important planned landscapes in the East of England" in the 20th century. The factory closed in 2005 but the housing and community facilities built around the factory endure.

The open day event takes place on Saturday, 15 October

The open day will feature guided tours of the factory and Bata estate, starting from the factory at 11am, 12 noon and 1pm. The cost of the tour is £5.

The Bata Heritage Centre, based at the library on Princess Avenue, will be open from 10am to 4pm and will host a talk about Bata's history at 2.30pm.

Find out more via this link.