KIDDERMINSTER Historical Society has unveiled its series of popular talks for the 25 to 26 season, writes Isabel Matthews.
A wide range of historical subjects will be spoken about by specialists at the meetings which all take place at 2.30pm on a Thursday at The Museum of Carpet on Green Street between September and March.
The society was founded in 1957 and gathered for its inaugural meeting on March 28 of that year.
It was formed by volunteers who were excavating the Roman Fort at Larford, near Astley, as part of a WEA archaeology course.
The group was initially called ‘The Kidderminster and District Archaeological and Historical Society’ and it met at the Kidderminster Museum in Market Street.
Then in 1970, it moved to the Caldwall Tower.
When the historic – and very apt – building was no longer available, meetings were moved to the library of the old King Charles 1st Grammar School.
Then, when that became the local registry office, the society met at St George’s Church Annex in Radford Avenue.
In 2022, the decision was taken to move to the current meeting place at the Museum of Carpet. The society sees this as the historical hub of the town.
2025/26 programme
The first meeting of the new season on September 25 will see Vanessa Morgan speak about The Diary of William Lea, the vicar of St Peter’s Church in Droitwich.
Next month – on October 8 – there will be a talk entitled ‘Salt Past and Present’ given by Charles Brecknell. He will look at the manufacturing and use of salt from ancient times to present day.
On October 23, members of the Historical Society will lead a talk on ‘The changes we’ve seen around Kidderminster during our lifetimes’. Everyone is welcome to go along and contribute to the discussion.
Lt-Colonel (Retired) Mark Jackson OBE will speak about The first Worcesters in North-West Europe – From D-Day to VE80 on November 13 and on November 27, Julian Hunt will give a talk on The Inns and Public Houses of Worcestershire.
At the society’s Christmas Social Afternoon on December 11, Andy Casserley will shed light on ‘800 Years of Medieval Christmas Music’.
The first talk of the new calendar year will be Alan Hill’s ‘Big Ben – A British Icon in London’ on January 8 and then on January 22, Honorary President Malcolm Dick OBE will give his presentation on ‘John Baskerville (1707 to 1775) from Wolverley – Printer, Businessman and Enlightenment Figure’.
On February 12, Sally Dickson will speak about ‘Some More People from Domesday Worcestershire’ – the specific subject is to be confirmed.
The Kidderminster Historical Society’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place on February 12 and will be followed by David Struckett’s ‘Before Stourport there was….’ talk.
John Hindley will give a presentation on ‘The Oak House (West Bromwich) – The Turtons and Local Skirmishes of the English Civil War’ on March 12.
And the final talk of the series will be ‘Dry Bones’ by Fiona Keith-Lucas who will give an insight into ‘Medieval Archaeology from the Charnel House at Worcester Cathedral’ on March 26.
Visitors are welcome to any of the talks for a small fee of £4.
People can often pay at the door but some subjects do attract large audience so booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Visit: kdahs.org and email via the contact button to book tickets or go to: facebook.com/KidderminsterHistoricalSociety and contact the group via its Facebook page.
