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
Bromsgrove Rousler 2024
The latest edition of the Bromsgrove Rousler, the popular local history magazine, is now available. The 2024 edition – number 39 in the series – features a fascinating mix of personalities and events that have helped shape Bromsgrove’s history.
Topics in this year’s Rousler are:
- Eddie Palmer: The Epic Story of a Boy Seaman
- The Caulcott Sisters
- All Saints Church: Celebrating 150 Years
- Webbs: A Local Success Story
- Forty Years of the Bromsgrove Methodist Church Centre
- Bromsgrove in Old Postcards.
Members will receive their copies shortly. Find a local stockist.
See here to purchase the Rousler from our online bookstall (leaves this website)
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.
Society Review 2023-24
The Bromsgrove Society’s AGM was held at Avoncroft Museum on Wednesday 3rd July 2024 at 7.30pm. Twenty-eight members attended.
The Chairman, Jo Slade, read her review of the year, thanking the committees and society members for their work and support in what had been another successful year. John Gerner gave a review on environment matters and Chris Nesbitt delivered her final review as chair of the Local History Group. Chris was thanked for all her contributions and was given a token of appreciation. The reports are available here. Members agreed to give the Executive Committee authority to sign off the Annual Accounts which were still to be finalised. They will be made available on the website.
Members re-elected the officers and committee members: Chairman Jo Slade, Vice-Chairman Pat Tansell, Treasurer Julian Dyer, Secretary Sue Beaumont, Membership Secretary Sue Skidmore, Executive Committee John Gerner, Julian Hunt, Alastair Moseley and Mike Sharpe. Mike agreed to chair the Local History Group.
After the meeting Helen Voyle gave a very interesting talk about her work in cataloguing boxes of documents relating to the Court Leet going back to the 1700s. She related fascinating anecdotes taken from letters, which gave some idea of the people involved, their attitudes and activities in days gone by.
Annual Lecture Now Online
Alastair Moseley's lecture on the history of the Wychbold masts is now available on our YouTube channel.
This presentation was given at Routh Concert Hall, Bromsgrove School on Tuesday 9th April 2024, as the 37th Annual Bromsgrove Lecture. In the presentation, Alastair describes how the BBC Transmitters came to be located near Bromsgrove, explains their role, and why they have been important, both nationally and internationally, for the past 90 years.
The presentation includes the 1935 film "Droitwich: The World's Most Modern Long Wave Transmitter", by John Griegson. A high-resolution version of the film is available at the British Film Institute website.
Latest Newsletter
The Bromsgrove Society Newsletter
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The September 2024 issue of the Society's newsletter is now available, containing details of:
Click the links to download the September Newsletter (PDF format). |
Summer School Success
At the Summer School three speakers gave interesting and informative talks. Tony Condor spoke on ‘The Canal World’ and led a rainy afternoon visit to Tardebigge. On day two Pat Tansell looked at Benjamin Sanders and button making in Bromsgrove with a visit to sites associated with the Sanders family and their legacy. On the final day Julian Hunt and Jenny Townshend spoke about ‘The Inns and Public Houses of Bromsgrove’ with a visit to sites occupied by inns and pubs past and present.
Everyone involved was delighted to receive very positive notes of thanks. One person said “Another brilliant Summer School! Well planned, delivered, and universally enjoyed! My favourite time of the year!” Another said “Thank you very much for organising a super Summer School this year. I thoroughly enjoyed each of the three days and learnt so much - even about subjects that I thought I already knew a lot about! The hospitality was good too and I thought the lunches were excellent.”
Thank you to Chris Nesbitt for ensuring the Summer School ran smoothly; to everyone who assisted with practical tasks; to Bromsgrove School for accommodating us so well; to the speakers for all their hard work in preparing and delivering their subjects; and to Julian Hunt for arranging the programme.
Jennie McGregor-Smith B.E.M.
Jennie McGregor-Smith B.E.M.
We are very sad to announce the death of Jennie McGregor-Smith who died on 15th September, aged 85.
Jennie was not just a Founder Member of the Bromsgrove Society, she was its instigator. It was her letter-writing and campaigning over the preservation of the town's history that brought together a nucleus of people to discuss the formation of a civic and heritage society, and she personally organised the Society's inaugural meeting in May 1980.
She was closely involved in arts, music and community activities in Bromsgrove and beyond for many years, and wrote several popular books on local history. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
The funeral will take place on Thursday, 12th October at 2pm at Redditch Crematorium. Family flowers only, please. Donations in Jennie's memory can be made to Help Musicians. All enquiries to James Giles & Sons (01527 872318).
Bromsgrove Town Numbering
Have you ever tried to locate where your ancestors lived in Bromsgrove but been unable to find it?
Property numbers in Bromsgrove can be confusing, especially in the High Street, as historically the numbering was completely different to how it is now. Before the 1950s, the High Street was numbered from the north (Strand) end in a circular arrangement, whereas today the numbering is from the south (St John’s Street) end on alternate sides of the road.
Local historian Jenny Townshend has compiled a short note to explain it all. You can access it for free here.
Don't forget, there's loads of information about Bromsgrove people and places in the book Bromsgrove: The Story of a Market Town, which Jenny co-authored with Julian Hunt. It's available in our online shop.
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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