Worcestershire Tourist Guide - Articles
Bromsgrove
As long ago as the 5th or 6th Century there was a village at Bromsgrove. It stood on the hill on the site of the present parish church. The village, of Saxon origin, was known variously as Bremesbyrig, Bremegrefa and Bremesgrave . In the Middle Ages Bromsgrove was an important Market town. Bromsgrove School was an important institution thought to have been founded by Edward VI.
The Court Leet represents the old form of government with its Lord of the Manor and Bailiff and a colourful procession on the nearest Saturday to Midsummer Day.
In the 16thC industry grew in Bromsgrove with nail-making becoming the major industry in the town and surrounding villages. The industry flourished for 300 years, dying out in the 19thC when machine made nails were introduced.
In 1825 salt was found at Stoke Prior and a salt works was built on both sides of the canal. Alkali, Sulphuric Acid, Salt and Soap were made and rock salt was mined for a brief period. The Stoke Prior salt works in the 1850s was the largest in the world and the owner, John Corbett, became known as the ‘Salt King’.
A E Houseman, author of ‘A Shropshire Lad’ was born in 1859 at Fockbury, west of Bromsgrove. The family home was Perry Hall, now a hotel, and there is a Houseman society, a signposted trail and a statue in the High Street.
In 1894 William Gilbert formed a Guild of Applied Arts in Bromsgrove as part of the Arts and Crafts movement. He began designing decorative ironwork in an old foundry in Bromsgrove, employing skilled workers who produced some famous work, including the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Bromsgrove is surrounded by beautiful countryside, undulating farmland rising in the north to the Clent and Lickey Hills, outstandingly attractive with exceptional views and close to rural Worcestershire and Birmingham. Add to this a wide range of pleasantly situated shops, superb hotel accommodation plus many pubs and restaurants, you have the ideal place to visit.
BROMSGROVE ATTRACTIONS
The AVONCROFT MUSEUM of historic buildings has its home in Bromsgrove. This museum includes the National Telephone Kiosk Collection.
Avoncroft is a fascinating museum of historic buildings spanning seven centuries, rescued from imminent destruction and carefully rebuilt timber by timber or brick by brick on a beautiful open-air site in the north of Worcestershire.
At Avoncroft you can walk into buildings from many different periods: Tudor buildings include the magnificent 16th century Merchant’s House from Bromsgrove and the former String of Horses Inn from Shrewsbury; fine 19th century buildings include the Toll Keeper’s House from Little Malvern, a ‘tin chapel’ from Herefordshire and a Victorian cell block; 20th century exhibits include the extravagant Edwardian living wagon made for a travelling showman and a 1940's Prefab showing how people lived after being re-housed following the Second World War.
Our fascinating traditional farm buildings include a 19th century windmill, a crushing mill for making Worcestershire cider and perry and a beautiful 16th century cruck barn, from Cholstrey in Warwickshire.
West Midlands working life is also represented with workshops from the local chain making and nail making industries. The displays explain that these were not just the domain of the working man, but that all members of the family, including wives and children, were expected to contribute to the families’ income by helping with the metalworking.
On event days re-enactors and craftspeople explain the domestic, working and religious lives of our ancestors, and demonstrate aspects of the social and working life of the past to visitors.
Avoncroft is a magical place for a family visit appealing to young and old alike, with a children’s play area, picnic site, gift shop and tea room.
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal runs close to Bromsgrove, it is popular for leisure activities such as walking and fishing. There are several narrowboat hire centres situated in villages close to Bromsgrove. The Tardebigge lock flight, with 30 locks, is the longest in the UK.
Bromsgrove is five miles away from the historic country house Hanbury Hall which is open to the public.
The Court Leet represents the old form of government with its Lord of the Manor and Bailiff and a colourful procession on the nearest Saturday to Midsummer Day.
In the 16thC industry grew in Bromsgrove with nail-making becoming the major industry in the town and surrounding villages. The industry flourished for 300 years, dying out in the 19thC when machine made nails were introduced.
In 1825 salt was found at Stoke Prior and a salt works was built on both sides of the canal. Alkali, Sulphuric Acid, Salt and Soap were made and rock salt was mined for a brief period. The Stoke Prior salt works in the 1850s was the largest in the world and the owner, John Corbett, became known as the ‘Salt King’.
A E Houseman, author of ‘A Shropshire Lad’ was born in 1859 at Fockbury, west of Bromsgrove. The family home was Perry Hall, now a hotel, and there is a Houseman society, a signposted trail and a statue in the High Street.
In 1894 William Gilbert formed a Guild of Applied Arts in Bromsgrove as part of the Arts and Crafts movement. He began designing decorative ironwork in an old foundry in Bromsgrove, employing skilled workers who produced some famous work, including the gates of Buckingham Palace.
Bromsgrove is surrounded by beautiful countryside, undulating farmland rising in the north to the Clent and Lickey Hills, outstandingly attractive with exceptional views and close to rural Worcestershire and Birmingham. Add to this a wide range of pleasantly situated shops, superb hotel accommodation plus many pubs and restaurants, you have the ideal place to visit.
BROMSGROVE ATTRACTIONS
The AVONCROFT MUSEUM of historic buildings has its home in Bromsgrove. This museum includes the National Telephone Kiosk Collection.
Avoncroft is a fascinating museum of historic buildings spanning seven centuries, rescued from imminent destruction and carefully rebuilt timber by timber or brick by brick on a beautiful open-air site in the north of Worcestershire.
At Avoncroft you can walk into buildings from many different periods: Tudor buildings include the magnificent 16th century Merchant’s House from Bromsgrove and the former String of Horses Inn from Shrewsbury; fine 19th century buildings include the Toll Keeper’s House from Little Malvern, a ‘tin chapel’ from Herefordshire and a Victorian cell block; 20th century exhibits include the extravagant Edwardian living wagon made for a travelling showman and a 1940's Prefab showing how people lived after being re-housed following the Second World War.
Our fascinating traditional farm buildings include a 19th century windmill, a crushing mill for making Worcestershire cider and perry and a beautiful 16th century cruck barn, from Cholstrey in Warwickshire.
West Midlands working life is also represented with workshops from the local chain making and nail making industries. The displays explain that these were not just the domain of the working man, but that all members of the family, including wives and children, were expected to contribute to the families’ income by helping with the metalworking.
On event days re-enactors and craftspeople explain the domestic, working and religious lives of our ancestors, and demonstrate aspects of the social and working life of the past to visitors.
Avoncroft is a magical place for a family visit appealing to young and old alike, with a children’s play area, picnic site, gift shop and tea room.
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal runs close to Bromsgrove, it is popular for leisure activities such as walking and fishing. There are several narrowboat hire centres situated in villages close to Bromsgrove. The Tardebigge lock flight, with 30 locks, is the longest in the UK.
Bromsgrove is five miles away from the historic country house Hanbury Hall which is open to the public.
