Kidderminster Historical Society - formerly KDAHS

23/03/2026

Our next talk is on Thursday 26th March 2026, at 2.30pm, when Fiona Keith-Lucas will give a talk entitled ' "Dry Bones." Medieval Archaeology from the Charnel House at Worcester Cathedral'. As always, the talk is in the Pugh Cook Room at the Museum of Carpet on Green Street. Everyone is welcome, including non-members (for whom a small charge applies).

Fiona, who is the Cathedral Archaeologist at Worcester Cathedral, will be revealing the fascinating world of the charnel house at the Cathedral. This lies just outside the main door to the cathedral and is an underground chamber full of human bones.

In the 13th Century it became quite common to store bones displaced from large churchyards in a crypt with a chapel above. Here, a priest would say prayers for the souls of the dead stacked neatly below. Worcester’s charnel crypt was the earliest in the country, and it’s also the only one still in use today – any archaeological skeletal remains are still laid to rest here, on top of 7 ft of medieval bones.

Fiona has a background in below-ground and buildings archaeology. She worked at Historical Royal Palaces as archaeological curator, and now holds a full-time position at Worcester Cathedral. Ongoing maintenance and development mean that there is always something new to uncover in this historical complex.

10/03/2026

Only two days to go until our next talk... 👇😀👇😀

28/02/2026

Our next talk is on Thursday 12th March, 2026, when Jon Hindley will speak on 'The Oak House, West Bromwich; The Turtons; Local Skirmishes of the English Civil War'.

The Oak House in West Bromwich (now Grade I listed) is a half-timbered yeoman farmer's house built about 1620, now in the care of Sandwell Museums.

The Turton family who were associated with the house at this time were yeoman farmers and nail makers; later expanding to be money lenders, making loans to impoverished royalist gentry after the English Civil War.

Jon has worked for the museums in Sandwell for a good number of years as a Living History Leader until recently and he now does casual work for them when required. He has worked mainly in the Oak House and has also been involved in some of their events. He is also a volunteer with our good friends down the road at Harvington Hall.

As ever, our meetings start at 2.30pm, and are held in the Pugh Cook Room at the Museum of Carpet. All are very welcome. A small charge applies for non-members.

13/02/2026

On Thursday 26th February, 2026, David Struckett will give a talk entitled 'Before Stourport There Was......'.

The talk will follow our AGM, which is fairly short and to which all are welcome.

David Struckett moved to Stourport in 2025 after a life-time interest in the River Severn, and has been involved in boating and historical activities of all sorts, both here and elsewhere. As a retired engineer and lecturer he has an interest to understand the workings of both the natural landscape in which we work and trade, and the remarkable achievements of our ancestors to create transport systems within it.

The foundation of Stourport as a town came about only because of the immediate success of Brindley's canal and basins here on existing trade routes - which connect the trades of Birmingham, the Black Country and surroundings to the west of our country - from Shrewsbury down to Gloucester and the estuary.

It is therefore interesting to view what was here before - and the river trade which had existed for centuries on what was called 'The King's High Way' to the sea.

Meetings start at 2.30 pm and are still held in the Museum of Carpet Building, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors who are very welcome - please message this page to ensure a seat.

02/02/2026

The subject of our next talk is Worcester's very own saint, St Wulfstan. Wulfstan served as Bishop of Worcester between 1062 to 1095 - and so he was Bishop in 1066, when the Norman Conquest took place. What changes he must have seen!

On Thursday 12th February, 2026, Sally Dickson will speak on 'Itchington, Family and Danes: the influences on the young St Wulfstan (c.1008 - 1095)'.

St Wulfstan was born at Itchington in Warwickshire during a turbulent period of Danish raiding and weak Anglo-Saxon kingship. This talk looks at how the previous history of the Itchington locality, the experiences of his family, the powerful preaching of his uncle, and the local Danish presence, all affected the future Bishop of Worcester during his formative years.

Sally is a local historian and current Chairman of the Kidderminster Historical Society. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham, taught a history of science course for the Open University and has undertaken a number of research projects. She gives talks to local societies on historical subjects ranging in date from Anglo-Saxon to twentieth century.

This talk arises from her current research on the people recorded in the Worcestershire pages of the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, which she intends, eventually, to publish as a book.

KHS meetings start at 2.30 pm and are still held in The Old Museum of Carpet Building, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ. There is a small charge for visitors who are very welcome - please message the page to ensure a seat.

Photo credits: Sally Dickson (author's own); Joseph Martin Kronheim (1810-1896) 'Writing the Domesday Book' (Wikimedia Commons); Stained Glass at the Church of Holy Trinity, Long Itchington (Wikimedia Commons).

23/01/2026

If you missed our talk yesterday, here's a reminder of what's coming up at Kidderminster Historical Society in the next few months... If you see something that interests you, do put it in the diary now.

08/01/2026

Our next talk takes place on Thursday 22nd January at 2.30pm and is a real treat. Malcolm Dick will be speaking on John Baskerville (1707-1776), one of Kidderminster's most famous sons.

Baskerville was born at Sion Hill House, known to us in Kidderminster as the 'big house at the top of Sion Hill', and went on to establish himself in Birmingham as a major manufacturer of japanware and Britain’s most significant printer.

Even if you haven't heard of Baskerville, you will have seen his work because the "Baskerville" font, which is based on his design, is widely used today. (Apologies that we couldn't write this social media post in it, though!)

The presentation looks at the early Worcestershire influences upon his life, and the impact of Birmingham on his developing career. It finishes with an assessment of his importance locally, and in the wider world.

Dr Malcolm Dick is no stranger to the Society, being in fact our Honorary President, and has made several visits over the years. He is Honorary Associate Professor of History and, formerly, Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham. He has written extensively on the history of the West Midlands including books on the history of Birmingham, the Black Country, refugees and on members of the Lunar Society. In 2016 he co-edited a book on John Baskerville with Professor Caroline Archer-Parré. He is currently editing another book with Caroline which will present recent research on Baskerville.

As ever, all are welcome at this talk. A small charge applies for non-members. New memberships are also encouraged!

07/01/2026

Tick tock! Our talk on Big Ben is tomorrow, folks! All welcome. See below details. And scroll down for our current programme of talks.

Happy New Year! And here is a reminder that the clock is ticking down to our next talk: Thursday 8th January, at 2.30pm at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, Kidderminster. **Note that even though the Museum has now closed to the public, we are still able to use this venue for the current programme of talks.**

Alan Hill will be giving a talk entitled 'Big Ben: a British Icon'.

Big Ben is one of the most famous buildings in the world, though 'Big Ben' is actually the nickname given to the 'great bell' of the striking clock in the tower itself. The tower and clock are recognised around the world and are one of the most prominent symbols of the UK and parliamentary democracy. This talk tells their story.

Alan Hill is a retired engineer. Born in South Cumbria & brought up in South Yorkshire, he has lived & worked in the city of Birmingham for most of his life.

For more than 20 years, Alan has been giving talks on a wide range of subjects, including historical events & people, architecture, industrial archaeology, and engineering & technology.

All are very welcome. A small charge applies for non-members.

05/01/2026

Happy New Year! And here is a reminder that the clock is ticking down to our next talk: Thursday 8th January, at 2.30pm at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, Kidderminster. **Note that even though the Museum has now closed to the public, we are still able to use this venue for the current programme of talks.**

Alan Hill will be giving a talk entitled 'Big Ben: a British Icon'.

Big Ben is one of the most famous buildings in the world, though 'Big Ben' is actually the nickname given to the 'great bell' of the striking clock in the tower itself. The tower and clock are recognised around the world and are one of the most prominent symbols of the UK and parliamentary democracy. This talk tells their story.

Alan Hill is a retired engineer. Born in South Cumbria & brought up in South Yorkshire, he has lived & worked in the city of Birmingham for most of his life.

For more than 20 years, Alan has been giving talks on a wide range of subjects, including historical events & people, architecture, industrial archaeology, and engineering & technology.

All are very welcome. A small charge applies for non-members.

11/12/2025

If you find yourself with a free afternoon today, consider popping down to our festive talk. Details below... 😀

Here's a reminder of our next talk - the last of this calendar year, and it has a suitably Christmasy subject!

On Thursday 11th December 2025 Andy Casserley will give a presentation entitled 'Eight Hundred Years of Christmas Music, from Medieval to Modern'. As usual, we meet at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, at 2.30pm. All welcome (a small charge applies for non-members).

Andy is a professional musician, specialising in historical music. Over the past twenty years he has played the length and breadth of the country in museums, stately homes, castles and historical sites.

In this presentation he will bring between twenty and thirty musical instruments from medieval to modern for demonstration and will play them all and sing music from various historical periods, exploring the changes in music and the festive season. There will be familiar and unfamiliar songs, and some surprises. His collection of historical instruments will be available for people to see close up.

Andy adds that the talk will not be too serious, and that he likes to get some audience participation if possible. Be warned!

09/12/2025

Two more days... 😀

Here's a reminder of our next talk - the last of this calendar year, and it has a suitably Christmasy subject!

On Thursday 11th December 2025 Andy Casserley will give a presentation entitled 'Eight Hundred Years of Christmas Music, from Medieval to Modern'. As usual, we meet at the Museum of Carpet, Green Street, at 2.30pm. All welcome (a small charge applies for non-members).

Andy is a professional musician, specialising in historical music. Over the past twenty years he has played the length and breadth of the country in museums, stately homes, castles and historical sites.

In this presentation he will bring between twenty and thirty musical instruments from medieval to modern for demonstration and will play them all and sing music from various historical periods, exploring the changes in music and the festive season. There will be familiar and unfamiliar songs, and some surprises. His collection of historical instruments will be available for people to see close up.

Andy adds that the talk will not be too serious, and that he likes to get some audience participation if possible. Be warned!