The Bromsgrove Society - Pride, Preservation, Progress

The 2020 Bromsgrove Lecture

The 34th Bromsgrove Lecture hosted by The Bromsgrove Society

Tuesday 7th April 2020 at 7.30pm
‘The Charles Archive: The Lives, Work and Legacy of Freddie and Mary Charles’
Presented by Emily Hathaway and Tegan Cornah

F.W.B Charles (1912-2002), better known as Freddie, was an architect and nationally recognised expert on the conservation and repair of timber-framed buildings.  He and his wife, architect Mary Charles (née Logan, 1924-2005), set up a private practice, initially in Bromsgrove and then in Worcester, that eventually specialised in the conservation and restoration of historic timber-framed buildings. Freddie and Mary were involved in the restoration of many important buildings across Worcestershire, including in Bromsgrove. Thanks to grant funding from Historic England and the Vernacular Architecture Group, the Charles Archive has now been fully catalogued and partially digitised.

Emily Hathaway is the Historic Landscape Officer and Tegan Cornah is a Historic Environment Record Assistant, both at Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service.

Routh Concert Hall, Bromsgrove School, B61 7HP
Tickets cost £6 and include a complimentary drink afterwards.
Buy online from Bromsgrove School
or in person from FotoFactory, 123 High Street, Bromsgrove.

Newsletter & Rousler Deliveries: We Need Your Help!

The Newsletter / Rousler delivery rounds are in the process of being re-arranged. There are big gaps in the local area, where due to there being no delivery by hand, they are posted and consequently costing the Society. This money could be re-directed towards projects to which the members could benefit.

Can you help and deliver a few booklets in your neighbourhood? The publication times are March, May and September for the Newsletters and December for the Rousler.

Please contact Chris Nesbitt on 01527 877227 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you can help.

Bromsgrove Rousler 2019

The latest edition of the Bromsgrove Rousler, the popular local history magazine, is now available. The 2019 edition – number 34 in the series – once again features a fascinating mix of personalities and events that have helped shape Bromsgrove’s history.

Topics in this year’s Rousler include:

• The Founding of the Bromsgrove Society
• The Bilberry Hill WWI Gun Proof Range
• The Work of Conservation Architects Freddie & Mary Charles
• Two Byngs from Bromsgrove
• History of Woodcote Manor
• Local Artist Sybil Barham
• Poet Joe Harrison

As well as being sold through local outlets, the Rousler is again available as a paid download through this website. 

An index to all editions of the Rousler back to 1986 is available as a free download.

Subscription to the History of Bromsgrove Book

To commemorate the Bromsgrove Society's 40th Anniversary, the Executive is planning to produce a new publication.

Provisionally entitled 'A History of Bromsgrove', the book will cover the history of the town and district from earliest times through to the present day based on the latest research. Local historians Jenny Townshend and Julian Hunt are hard at work on the text and the book will be lavishly illustrated with drawings, maps and photographs. Publication is scheduled for Summer 2020.

Click Read More to sign up as a Subscriber.