On Wednesday 19th August a group of Bromyard & District Local History Society members visited Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings. One of the buildings there, the Bringsty Mission Church
(or Tin Church) from Bringsty Common was dismantled and moved to the site in 1995.
This church was built in the parish of Whitbourne in 1891, at a cost of £70.00. The building arrived in the form of a flat pack at nearby Brockhampton railway sidings and was then transported by horse and cart for the two and a half miles to it’s permanent site at the side of the side of the Bromyard to Worcester road.
An exciting new initiative, Food Stories of Bromyard, by the BDLHS will be officially launched on the 3rd of April, between 5 and 8pm in the Oak Room at the Falcon Hotel in Bromyard. As refreshments will be served we would appreciate that you email Jayne at jayne@foodscapes.co.uk letting her know you will be attending by 27th March.
Jayne Bradley (a freelance food project manager) has been interviewing local farmers and food producers for the archive, with a grant awarded by HM Government, Cultural Development Fund.
She has interviewed 8 local farmers and producers. The interviews will go into our archive. For a sneak preview of one of the interviews click on the image to the right.
She has also created a map for visitors to Bromyard (above) which will be available across the town. The map will pinpoint all the significant food locations across the area. People will also be able to go online and download a recording of the best of the clips from the oral history interviews.
Jayne was keen for visitors to our town to be able to find out more about past and present stories of farming and food production in the area and to feel connected to Bromyard’s significant food history. Jayne wants to continue to develop awareness of the amazing food economy of the town and the rich history of agriculture in the area. She wants to put Bromyard on the Food Map and Food Stories of Bromyard is another step in that direction.
On Saturday 1st March we had an excellent talk on Stained Glass in and around Bromyard by Rob Walker author of ‘The Medieval Stained Glass of Herefordshire and Shropshire’.
Rob set the scene with a short video on the making of stained glass and the techniques involved before introducing us to the evolving styles of stained glass from medieval times to the present with examples from across Herefordshire and Shropshire.
It was impressive to hear just how many stained glass makers were operating in the 19th and early 20th centuries: some of them familiar names such as Kempe and Burne-Jones but also others less well known.
Rob then talked us through the stained glass of St Peter’s in Bromyard and many of the local churches including work by Kempe in Bockleton, Hamnish and Tedstone Delamere, Hardman in Thornbury (left) and Burne-Jones at Leysters.
Plenty of inspiration for more informed visits to lots of local churches!
Stained Glass in Bromyard and the Surrounding Village Churches by Rob Walker 1st March at the LHS centre on Sherford St, 14:00 – 16:00 Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served at half time. £10.00 per person, booking essential before 14th February. Numbers are limited so please book by email to anna.ross@live.co.uk to ensure there are remaining places. Payment can be made online via the button below, at the LHS or HOBS on Broad St. (more…)
Our next talk will be on the 12th of March at the Conquest Theatre – 7.30pm. The Hill & Evans Vinegar Line and the Worcester Gas Works – the industrial history of the Shrub Hill area, now designated as a regeneration zone. Two chemists founded the world’s largest vinegar works in 1830, later producing 2 million gallons of malt vinegar annually. To aid distribution, in 1872 a railway track linked the Great Filling Hall to Shrub Hill station sidings, crossing Pheasant Street and the canal.
This illustrated talk by Chris Wilkinson will chart the line from Worcester’s motive power depot to the vinegar works at Lowesmoor with many then & now images and humorous anecdotes scattered throughout the talk. Book Here
Everyone is welcome, members free, guests £6.00. Tea, coffee, snacks and a full bar will be available together with a raffle – a good social evening with an interesting talk.
It would be helpful if you can pre-book before the event through the theatre booking system. This saves queuing at the box office before the start of the talk. Even though there is no charge for members, a complete list of those attending is required for fire safety reasons. Members will receive an email with a password allowing free booking. Book online: Here or telephone 01885 488575 – Saturday and Wednesday mornings.
On Sunday 8th December we met at the Falcon for the Bromyard and District Local History Society Christmas Lunch. Sue Cooper welcomed us and introduced Jane Bradley and her Food Stories of Bromyard information boards.
Beautifully cooked turkey, ham and a sweet potato Wellington were served carvery style with plenty of different vegetables (there were some very laden plates!) followed by a choice of puddings and then coffee. Natalie and Sue organised a raffle with some great prizes to round of the event and we all went home with a copy of the Food Stories map.
The Society held its annual AGM at The Falcon on the evening of 18th November with the agenda following that published to members earlier, along with a proxy voting form.
The meeting was attended by upwards of 30 members, a very good turn out considering the weather, and also a number of members made use of their proxy voting forms.
The minutes of last year’s AGM and the Trustees Reports and Financial Statements for the year ended 30th April, 2024 were passed and the following Trustees were elected for the forthcoming year: Hugh Farey, David Grant, Debbie Hughes, Jane Merry, Cliff Morris, Mandy Palmer and Anna Ross. The Officers elected for the forthcoming year were: Chairman: Sue Cooper; Secretary: Natalie Miller; Treasurer: Ian Campbell.
A note for your diary: the AGM 2025 will be held on November 10th at 7pm.
Many thanks go to all who came along and supported the Annual Christmas Fair at the Local & Family History Centre on Saturday.
Whether you came along to visit, help on a stall, made or donated mince pies or gave raffle prizes, thank you, it was very much appreciated.
You’ll be pleased to know it raised approximately £200.00 on the day.
Everyone who attended, very much enjoyed the mulled drinks and mince pies and it was also a lovely social occasion with members of the Society and the public. Mandy Palmer
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