A PRESENTATION on ‘Worcestershire Coaching Inns’ is the next one in the latest programme by the Kidderminster Historical Society.
The talk will be given by Julian Hunt at 2.30pm on November 27 at The Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster.
Most English market towns had two or more large coaching inns able to provide fresh horses for scheduled stage-coach services.
They would also provide horses for private coaches and hire out post chaise (a smaller coach with two horses – one of them ridden by a post boy).
The innkeeper would be one of the largest employers in a town, having to run a shift system of servants and grooms to ensure that passengers and horses were looked after around the clock.
The venue would have a large assembly room and a bowling green.
The inn also needed a kitchen garden to provide food for the table and pasture for the horses when not on the road.
The speaker, Mr Hunt, was a librarian in Birmingham, Oldham and latterly in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
He has written books about churches, cotton mills and the market towns of Worcestershire and Buckinghamshire.
He is currently President of the Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society.
There is a small charge for visitors who are very welcome but people must book places to ensure a seat.
Visit: kdahs.org or: facebook.com/KidderminsterHistoricalSociety for more on the event and to book places.
