The Bromsgrove Society - Pride, Preservation, Progress
Welcome to the Bromsgrove Society
The Bromsgrove Society exists to preserve the history and promote the sustainable development of the town of Bromsgrove in north Worcestershire.
Read more about Our Work and How to Join
Latest Newsletter
The Bromsgrove Society Newsletter
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The June 2026 issue of the Society's newsletter is now available, containing details of:
Click the links to download the June Newsletter (PDF format). |
2026 AGM and Blue Bird Talk, 25th June
The Bromsgrove Society’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 25th June 2026 at New Guesten Hall, Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings, B60 4JR. Meeting commences at 7.00 p.m.
The agenda and nomination forms are available here.
Following the A.G.M Julian Hunt will give an illustrated talk, telling the story of Blue Bird and Harry Vincent Ltd, the Birmingham confectionery company who built the new factory and model village at Hunnington in 1927. The talk will cover the company’s history from its foundation in 1895 to its closure in 1998.
After the talk refreshments will be served and attendees will be able to mingle and chat. The AGM and talk are free to attend. We would be grateful to hear in advance from those planning to attend. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we have an idea of numbers for refreshments.
Bromsgrove Summer School 2026
This year's Bromsgrove Summer School will be held on 7th-9th July. It offers three courses over the three days, celebrating the rich agricultural, industrial, architectural and cultural history of Bromsgrove and district.
This year's topics are:
- Day 1, Tues 7th July: Birmingham and the General Strike of 1926, with Andrew Reekes. Andrew followed a career in education and has now returned to studying history in the West Midlands. In the afternoon Julian Hunt will look at how the General Strike affected Bromsgrove.
- Day 2, Weds 8th July: A History of Kidderminster; a town renowned for its Carpet Industry, with Julian Hunt, local historian, founder of the Summer School and a former editor of this newsletter. The afternoon visit will include a view of surviving carpet factories and handloom weavers’ cottages.
- Day 3, Thurs 10th July: The Bromsgrove Guild - New Evidence and Insights, with Professor Ben Bennett. Ben is a former Bromsgrove resident with an in-depth knowledge of the Guild. His recent research has revealed previously unknown works. In the afternoon we will visit the site of the remaining Guild workshop and some of the Guild features at Bromsgrove School.
The standard fee for each course is £55, or £50 for members of the Bromsgrove Society. The cost for attending across all three days will be £150 or £135 respectively. This year there is a new option of attending the morning session only up to lunchtime. To access the booking form or book online, click 'Read More' below.
Read more...Local History Talks 2026/27
Our new season of Tuesday evening local history meetings resumes with:
- 15 Sep 2026: Remembering the Swinging Sixties, with Ray Sturdy, talking about the decade we can never forget.
Other dates before the end of the year are:
- 20 Oct 2026: Dry Bones: Medieval Archaeology at Worcester Cathedral, with Fiona Keith-Lucas
- 17 Nov 2026: Clent Village, A Brief Look Back, with Paul Timmins
- 01 Dec 2026: Christmas Songs Through the Ages, with Richard Churchley
The full programme is available through the About Us tab above.
All talks are held at The Methodist Centre, Stratford Road, B60 1AS.
Doors open 7.15pm, all talks begin at 7.45pm. All welcome. Admission: Members £3, Non-Members £4.
Bromsgrove Rousler 2025
The latest edition of the Bromsgrove Rousler, our popular local history magazine, is now available. To celebrate the Rousler's 40th anniversary, this year's edition is a special bumper issue packed full of stories on people and events that have helped shape Bromsgrove’s history.
Topics in this year’s Rousler include:
- Big Bertha: The Story of a Railway Icon
- Bromsgrove's influence on the poet A.E. Housman
- New research on the Bromsgrove Guild
- The Remarkable Walford Sisters
- Albert Malin's War
- Thomas Swift and the Electric Picture Palace.
Follow these links to purchase the Rousler from our online bookstall
(leaves this website) or One-click Purchase through Paypal
Bromsgrove Society Members will receive their copies shortly. Find a local stockist.
Rouslers make an ideal Christmas present, especially for friends now living elsewhere.
Back issues and a wide variety of books can be bought through our online bookstall.
Remember Subscriptions!
Please consider paying by standing order as this significantly reduces administration time.
You can renew online and check the current subscription rates on our Membership Page.
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