THERE are a number of rare opportunities to look back in time this weekend in north Wiltshire.

As part of Heritage Open Days, some hidden secrets will be on public display for the first time in decades.

In Malmesbury, one of the oldest domestic buildings in the country, the White Lion inn, will be serving drinks for the first time since it closed 1967.

The iconic pub served thirsty residents for more than 500 years and was named after Edward IV, who lodged there on his way to the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

It is also little know that in 1703 the inn was the location of the death of barmaid Hannah Twynnoy, the first person to be killed by a tiger in Britain.

The Old White Lion is now a private home and has recently been renovated.

For this event three of the bar areas are being recreated, with drinks on tap to give residents a sense of what the pub was like decades ago.

All money raised from the bar is going to the Malmesbury Civic Trust and the Athelstan Museum.

Researched historical information will be also available.

The Inn will be open noon-2pm on Saturday and Sunday. To attend contact Paul Smith by calling 01666 822275.

Another rare treat that will be open to the public for the first time in 20 years, is the disused Moravian Church in Malmesbury.

The church was recently bought through public donations by the Friends of Athelstan Museum (FOAM) and will be renovated to allow for the museum, situated across the road from the site, to be expanded.

Roger Griffin, a former chairman of FOAM who was heavily involved in bid to acquire the church, said the day offers people a chance to see the church and have their say on what they think the museum could do with the space.

“A lot of people will want to see what we plan to do with the room,” he said.

“We hope people will come along and share ideas for how to develop the church.”

The Moravians stopped using the church 20 years ago and it was sold it to someone who had ideas for it to be a house and art gallery.

These plans never reached fruition, so the church was left empty, until now.

Two people from Moravian church HQ in London will be there on the day to answer questions about the church.

The open day at the church will run from 2-5pm on Saturday. All are welcome.